Kenyan traders at Busia border have complained of increased sexual harassment and rape.
They said this has affected mostly women and some have had to abandon their business for fear of being raped and infected with HIV/AIDs.
According to UNAIDS report on Kenya for 2017, at least 53,000 Kenyans were infected with HIV in 2017.
Busia county was ranked 8th with a HIV prevalence of 6.8 percent.
Homa Bay County is the leading in the Country with a prevalence rate of 25.7 percent.
In Busia , the situation is even made worse after APHIA Plus (AIDS, Population and Health Integrated Assistance) projects closed shop in April after 8 years.
APHIAPLUS set shop in Nambale, Teso South and Samia Sub Counties, Busia County in 2011.
It is a project that works to strengthen health systems and institutions at every level to expand access to an integrated package of essential health services.
These services are HIV and AIDS prevention, care, and treatment; contraception; maternal, neonatal, and child health; and services to prevent and treat malaria and tuberculosis.
Speaking during a workshop on gender issues at Hotel Itoya on Tuesday, the traders said the County and the national government should construct a Gender Based Violence recovery center.
They said this will help counsel women who have been sexually abused or harassed in line of duty as cross border traders.
Led by Busia Women Cross Border Traders Sacco secretary Edna Mudibo, they said they want the want East African Member states to harmonize tax regimes to save Kenyans traders from cheaper Ugandan goods.
Busia Deputy Governor Moses Mulomi said the County government will push for harmonization of taxes among EAC states saying it will protect county residents.
Mulomi who is also acting Health CEC said the need for a GBV recovery center is valid, adding that he will push for the center to be opened at the Busia County Referral Hospital.
He said the planned Sh60 million cross border market and the Jumuiya market once completed will boost fish trade in the region.
The Jumuiya market will make Busia “Dubai of East Africa.”
The women cross border Sacco chair Florence Atieno said the forum will help address their rights and to enable them graduate their trade status.
She urged the County and donors to do business without fighting the government.