Kapenguria, West Pokot – May 30, 2025
A critical milestone was achieved in West Pokot County with the official launch of a Gender-Based Violence Recovery Center (GBVRC) at Kapenguria County Referral Hospital – a first-of-its-kind facility in the region aimed at offering timely, survivor-centered care to individuals affected by gender-based violence.
The launch was delivered through the Accelerate Program, a collaborative initiative supported by the Embassy of Denmark and implemented by a consortium of partners including PS Kenya, GVRC, and Population Services International (PSI). The event brought together leadership from the County Government of West Pokot, the Ministry of Gender, and multiple stakeholders from the development and health sectors, reflecting the united front required to address the urgent issue of GBV in Kenya.
The newly launched GBVRC at Kapenguria County Referral Hospital is a comprehensive, one-stop facility providing medical care, psychosocial support, legal referral services, and temporary shelter for survivors. By offering dignified, confidential, and holistic care under one roof, the center eliminates the burden of navigating fragmented services. For communities in and around West Pokot, many of which are rural, underserved, and face deep-rooted social and cultural barriers, this facility offers a critical lifeline for survivors seeking safety, healing, and justice.
In her keynote address during the launch, the Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture, the Arts, and Heritage, Hon. Hannah Cheptumo, described the initiative as “a beacon of hope, a sanctuary for survivors, and a firm declaration that violence will no longer be tolerated.” She emphasized that, “The establishment of this recovery center is not just about infrastructure, it’s about dignity. It’s about telling survivors that they matter, that they will be heard, and that support is within reach.”
Building on this call to action, the Governor of West Pokot, H.E. Simon Kachapin, echoed these sentiments and reaffirmed the county’s commitment to sustaining the center’s services. He highlighted plans to invest in health systems, train frontline personnel, and work closely with community structures to prevent and respond to gender-based violence more effectively.
The Accelerate program has worked closely with county health officials and implementing partners to ensure that the center is not only built, but also fully operational and locally owned. As part of its broader goal to ensure survivors receive timely, coordinated, and respectful care, the program has supported capacity-building for health providers, strengthened linkages with judicial and policing systems, and implemented community-level awareness activities.
Speaking at the launch, the Gender and SRHR Programme Manager at the Danish Embassy in Kenya, Ms. Halima Abba Ali Zaid, reaffirmed Denmark’s commitment to supporting the center’s full functionality and integration into county-level response systems. “This center is the result of deliberate collaboration,” she noted. “We recognize that addressing GBV requires a multi-sectoral approach, one that brings together health, justice, and community-based care.”
The center is already receiving survivors and is expected to serve hundreds of individuals annually, providing critical support at a time when national data continues to reflect high levels of gender-based violence, particularly in regions with limited access to essential services.
The West Pokot GBVRC is part of a broader vision under the Accelerate program, which aims to achieve three transformative results: zero unmet need for family planning, zero preventable maternal and child deaths, and zero gender-based violence and harmful practices.
To achieve this, the Accelerate Program prioritizes strengthening sexual and reproductive health systems, expanding access to care, and fostering collaboration between county governments and community structures. Grounded in a rights-based and systems-strengthening approach, the program operates across 13 counties in Kenya, supporting local governments to deliver sustainable health and protection outcomes for women, adolescents, and other vulnerable populations
