NANYUKI, Kenya, May 27- The Nanyuki POLICARE Centre was handed over to the National Police Service on Thursday, becoming the first one-stop centre for tackling sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) outside of Nairobi.
The completed section, which has cost Sh9 million, is a joint effort by the National Police Service (NPS), British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK), and the UK’s REINVENT programme.
The UK has further provided technical and financial support to the preparation and launch of the POLICARE Policy, Strategy, and standard operating procedures.
POLICARE, coined from the words ‘Police’ and ‘Care’, is designed to provide a practical service nationally for the prevention of and response to SGBV. Forensic investigators, Health providers, gender experts, legal experts including a magistrate on call, and a representative from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution, are among the experts centred on victim support that will be based at the police station.
“The UK is proud of its ground-breaking work to help to eradicate violence against women and girls, by pioneering new approaches around the world. In Kenya, working with partners to end this crime continues to be a top priority,” Brigadier Ronnie Westerman, Defence Adviser at the British High Commission said during the handing over ceremony.
“We are privileged to be part of this partnership between the National Police Service, the UK’s REINVENT programme and BATUK. Programmes like POLICARE help women get all round support, which is key for their well-being, safety and ultimately for their equipment.”
Judy Lamet, the Assistant Inspector General and Director of POLICARE, said, ““I am really pleased that we are at the cusp of launching and fully opening doors to the public to this integrated victim-centered station for victims of sexual and gender abuse. With this handover, we are ready to hit the ground running even as we anticipate full operations with all stakeholders on board.”
She pointed out that according to the statistics from the 2017 elections, 78 percent of victims of sexual and gender based violence did not report to the police.
“POLICARE is therefore a very timely project and I am hopeful that it will build trust between us the Police and the public,” she said.
“We hope to see further collaboration with the public to ensure perpetrators of these woeful acts are dealt with and that the victims are protected, treated and get justice through the one stop centre that POLICARE has enabled.”
Jaki Mbogo, the REINVENT’s Chief of Party at Tetratech International, said, ““The most significant support to persons affected by SGBV is an opportunity for a dignified recovery.”
“POLICARE brings dignity to recovery by centring police and justice response into the healing and recovery process. REINVENT and UKaid are proud to be associated with this novel and transformative policing practice in Kenya”
The UK’s REINVENT programme has extended infrastructure support to the inaugural POLICARE centre in Nairobi, including supplying computers and printers for the purpose of enhancing the SGBV data collection and management.
The UK Embassy in Nairobi said in a statement that, “this is anticipated to enhance analysis and coordination of SGBV data management.”
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