LOBBY groups from Mombasa and Nairobi are conducting a countrywide research on sexual gender-based violence in areas marked as hotspots during the 2007 post-election violence.

Centre for Collaboration for Gender-based Violence and Coast Women in Development have partnered to carry out research in Mombasa, Naivasha, Kisumu and Nairobi to collect data that will help in creating a national policy on gender based violence.

Speaking at workshop in Mombasa last Friday, Mediatrix Tuju, the research coordinator at CCDG, said they are conducting the study so that they can collect factual information to help in curbing GBV.

"It is observed that we lack documentation on gender violence. The research will help in giving real evidence so that we can come up with a national policy on gender violence within our communities," she said.

She added that because many cases go unreported, Kenya has been unable to fight violence inflicted on women for lack of evidence. Tuju said during elections period, violence against women escalates and it is important to use this March 4 general election as their study case to have a sustainable report for future use.

Women and children are the most vulnerable to violence. The research will be used to unearth the ordeal the women undergo. The perpetrators of the violence will also be used to give credible information.