Better Divorced Than Dead, Sonko Says While Intensifying GBV Campaign

Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has intensified his campaign against gender-based violence, calling the rise in reported cases a national crisis that demands immediate action.

Sonko says he has received a growing number of distress calls from survivors and families across the country, describing the volume of complaints as alarming. He urged government agencies, advocacy organisations and community groups to work together, saying that isolated efforts are not enough. 

He emphasised the need for broad partnerships involving NGOs, women’s groups and grassroots networks to strengthen prevention and response measures. He also advised people in violent relationships to prioritise their safety, noting that leaving an abusive environment is often necessary despite the social difficulties involved. 

According to him, separation is far better than the risk of severe injury or death. He stressed that gender-based violence affects individuals across all social and economic backgrounds.

Sonko’s campaign has been driven in part by recent incidents, including the death of Mumbi Kanyaga in Nairobi West. He said the young woman was attacked by her boyfriend and his associates before dying in the hospital. 

Her body is currently at Montezuma Funeral Home in Kabati, and the suspects are being held at Lang’ata Police Station. Sonko called for justice for her family, citing the case as a stark example of the dangers of intimate partner violence.

His message gained further urgency after an incident involving his own family. Sonko said he responded to a distress call from his daughter, who alleged that her husband assaulted her during a domestic disagreement. 

A video he shared shows him confronting his son-in-law while instructing his aides not to retaliate, insisting that violence cannot be met with violence. His daughter’s account of the argument escalating into physical assault has since circulated widely.

Reflecting on the episode, Sonko described the fear in his daughter’s voice and the distress of receiving such a call as a parent. He noted that if his own family can experience such violence, many others across the country may be suffering without support or protection.