by RACHEL MUTHONI
Cases of domestic violence are on the rise in Kenya. While in the past women were known to receive beatings from their husbands, it seems in recent years that women too are inflicting violence on their husbands.
In many African traditions men beat their wives to show their superiority. In some customs, women are equated with children and men discipline their wives just as they would their children.
The Kenya Demographic survey of 2008 indicates that 39 percent of women surveyed have been abused by their partners. In the same year, a survey by the Federation of Women Lawyers – Kenya (FIDA Kenya) indicates that almost 75 percent of surveyed women have undergone violence.
But ‘modern’ domestic violence is not just about men disciplining women. While reported rates of violence of men against women are much higher than those of women against men, experts are worried over the rising number of cases. And while there are no official statistics of violence against men, media reports of victims assert the trend is rising of women abusing men.
Women’s International Perspective for more