Irene Magut on the road walked at Rural Women Page 7
Training manual to scale up PIK advocacy in war against GBV Page 9
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE BY PEACE INITIATIVE KENYA (PIK) PROJECT
How woman-to-woman marriages are escalating GBV Page 17
ISSUE 12 | 2015
Combined efforts key to ending GBV
PROMOTING A SOCIETY FREE OF GENDER VIOLENCE
About Peace Initiative Kenya
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Editorial Team
eace Initiative Kenya (PIK) is a threeyear USAID funded project working towards the prevention of and response to gender based violence (GBV) in Kenya. The project aims at supporting prevention of Gender Based Violence and improving the current GBV response framework at the national and county levels. The PIK project is implemented by the International Rescue Committee (IRC), together with local partners; Nyabende Support Programme; Rural Aids Prevention and Development Organisation (RAPADO) and Amjutine Children Care and Protection Centre (AMJUTINE) Rural Women’s Peace Link (RWPL), Sauti Ya Wanawake – Pwani, Health Care Assistance Kenya (HAK) through GBV hotline 1195 and African Woman and Child Feature Service (AWC). The project covers nine counties: Taita Taveta, Kwale, Mombasa, Kisumu, Migori, Kisii, Uasin Gishu, Nandi and Trans Nzoia to improve GBV prevention, as well as increase access and utilization of GBV services through community outreach and other awareness raising efforts. At the national level, the PIK project works closely with the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC), Ministry of Devolution and Planning, specifically the Directorate of Gender, Anti-Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Board and other stakeholders to support the Government in creating an enabling environment for coordination of GBV prevention and service provision.
IRC Team Jebiwot Sumbeiywo Joyce Muchena Ruth Oywaya Valine Moraa
Project Objectives: • Strengthen county engagement in preventing and responding to GBV • Increase access and utilization of GBV services through community outreach and other awareness raising efforts Contact Information International Rescue Committee Regent Court, along Argwings Kodhek Road Contact the Chief of Party Phone: +254 726082140 Email: PIK@rescue.org Facebook: GBV Service Providers Africa Woman and Child Feature Service Nairobi Baptist Church Court, Green Lane, off Ngong Road Nairobi Phone: +254 20 2720554, +254 722 209510 Email: info@awcfs.org Website: www.awcfs.org Twitter: @AWCFS Facebook: African Woman & Child
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IRC offers technical support for establishment of rescue centre for GBV survivors Page 5 Media agenda in PIK project giving SGBV visibility to a larger audience Page 7 Irene Magut on the road walked at Rural Women Page 9 Training manual to scale up PIK advocacy in war against GBV Page 11 RAPADO organises men to raise engagement in GBV prevention
AWC Team
SUB EDITOR:
EXECUTIVE Director:
Odhiambo Orlale
Miller Omega George Ngesa
Arthur Okwemba
CONTRIBUTORS
DESIGN & printing:
Managing Editor:
Valine Moraa Jane Godia Odhiambo Orlale Christine Ogutu Henry Kahara
Vieve Omnimedia
Jane Godia Programme Manager:
Ruth Omukhango
This production is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
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Project Goal: • To improve national and countylevel gender-based violence (GBV) service delivery systems and policy implementation.
Contents
INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE
AFRICAN WOMAN AND CHILD FEATURE
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PROMOTING A SOCIETY FREE OF GENDER VIOLENCE
Sustainable GBV Programming: IRC and the Kisii Governor’s Spouse hold Consultations By Valine Moraa
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mong its key stakeholders, Peace Initiative Kenya (PIK) project has been working with county women representatives and women leaders, as well as other county government officials to lobby for establishment of Gender Based Violence (GBV) structures, allocation of resources for improved GBV services and awareness raising on GBV crisis at national and county levels. Since its inception in 2012, PIK project activities have focused on peace messaging and mobilizing communities to enhance their preparedness and capacity to prevent and respond to Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Kenya. It is in this regard that the program-staff from International Rescue Committee (IRC), the lead organisation in the PIK project had a meeting with Kisii County Governor’s wife, Elizabeth Ongwae and County Government Director of Youth Douglas Arege to discuss sustainability and continuity of the partnership that the project has with their respective offices. The meeting which was held in Nairobi addressed the need for coordination as well as linking of PIK project networks with the office of the Governor’s wife. It was noted during the discussions, that coordination by various stakeholders within national and county levels in engagements that address issues of GBV, including the planning and organizing of national and international events created a huge impact on GBV related work. It’s for this reason that the ISSUE 12
Jebiwott Sumbeiywo, Chief of Party PIk project, joined by Elizabeth Ongwae, wife to Kisii County Governor, holding deliberations at IRC offices. PHOTO: VALINE MORAA
PIK project team from IRC advised and agreed to facilitate a linkage that will aid both office of the County Governor’s wife and County Government Director of Youth to spearhead formation of a GBV Working Group in Kisii County. Commemorated It was agreed that they would do this in conjunction with the national government office of Director of Youth and Gender based at the county. It was noted that all these offices have varied supporting aspects such as technical and funds, which will contribute to the formation of the working group. Another key coordination that PIK project has been taking part in and supporting at both national and county level is the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence, which is commemorated annually from November 25 to December 10.
The PIK project team suggested that office of the Governor’s wife can coordinate the planning of this event in Kisii County in partnership with the National Government office of Director of Youth and Gender among other stakeholders. PIK offered to link the two offices represented with the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) as the commission which is running a national campaign against Gender Based Violence titled Keeping the Promise — End GBV, which will be launched in all the 47 counties of Kenya. Having GBV activities already being implemented on the ground in Kisii County, will aid the Commission in building on their work. The meeting with Ongwae, also discussed on the need to sensitize the public on new and existing laws and policies on Gender Based Violence. Most often, people who have been caught on the wrong side
of the law when it comes to GBV are usually astounded that they are actually breaking the law.This is common among those who practice Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) or physically assault their partners. An opportunity identified in the discussion was that Mrs. Ongwae’s office can undertake dissemination of materials on new laws and policies including Protection Against Domestic Violence Act 2015 and Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act 2011. This would also be one way of educating members of the public on laws and create awareness that GBV is a violation of these laws. PIK project team also shared some of its successes in working with the youth and specifically Kisii University, and agreed to link the office of the Governor’s wife with that of the Dean of Students to enable them partner and support initiatives that promote rights of the girl child. 3
PROMOTING A SOCIETY FREE OF GENDER VIOLENCE
Kisumu County Women Representative while discussing with PIK project staff. PHOTO: valine moraa
IRC offers technical support for establishment of rescue centre for GBV survivors By Valine Moraa
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afety and Security is the immediate response that Sexual Gender Based Survivors must receive even as they seek from other services.
This reduces the eminent risk of repeated attack from the perpetrator and gives the survivor confidence and peace of mind when seeking for other services within the referral pathway. Peace Initiative Kenya (PIK) project of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) with support from USAID, and working with a consortium of local organisations has highlighted the need for efficient delivery of social and financial resources to curtail Gender Based Violence (GBV). The project works with county governments in improving GBV prevention and service provision. In Kisumu County, PIK has been working with the office
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of the Women Representative, Gender Technical Working Group, office of the Director of Youth and Gender, County Executive Committee Ministry of Education Gender and Culture as well as Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) to support and lobby for establishment and maintenance of structures for social service delivery such as rescue centres for survivors of GBV. Violence These actions follow recommendations by the PIK project report on status of violence in the country. The report, My Action Counts: An Assessment Report on GBV Responses in Kisumu County indicates defilement is a common form of GBV in Kisumu County with the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Gender Based Violence Recovery Centre (GBVRC) recording three to four cases per day.
The report further reveals that during school holidays, cases of defilement increase to between seven and ten per day. Quoting data from Kisumu Central Police Station, the report notes majority of the survivors are from informal settlements and there is no single safe houses/rescue centres where survivors of GBV can go to even as they heal,it is more difficult for children who have been defiled by their own relatives and they have to put in the same house as they heal. Other forms of violence common to the county include widow inheritance and cleansing, rape, incest and sodomy. Teenage pregnancies and early marriages remain huge consequences of defilement. The report also indicates wife battering and violence against women during electioneering periods as other forms of GBV common to the county. Myths suggesting that sex with a virgin cures HIV and AIDS highly
contribute to sexual violence against children and vulnerable groups including people living with disability and the elderly. Drug and alcohol abuse have also been indicated to escalate GBV. Resources One of the recommendations by the report to the Kisumu County Government is need for implementation of Gender Mainstreaming Strategy Plan for 2013-2014 and 20172018. For this to be achieved, the report indicates it will require among other things allocation of financial and human resources to sectors and institutions that work directly in responding to and preventing GBV. PIK has been lobbying the County goverment officials and structures on the need to improve GBV service delivery in the county. In one of the county engagement with the International Rescue Committee under the PIK project,Hon. Nyamunga reiterated the need for partnerships in ending GBV and made her commitment in setting aside a percentage of the ISSUE 12
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Affirmative Action Social Development Fund to renovate a centre that the county can use as a safe house for GBV among other development initiatives that would reduce the vulnerability of women and youth to drug abuse and GBV. Knowing the IRC’s expertise in GBV programming,Hon. Nyamunga sought for support and IRC-PIK team offered the technical support on what is required to establish a safe house and at the same time referred her to National Gender and Equality Commission since at that time some members of Gender technical committee were in the process of developing Terms of Reference for setting up a Safe/ Rescue centre. The office of the Kisumu County Women Representative was also advised on how to come up with a code of conduct to guide those who will be working at the rescue centre.The code of conduct would also define the kind of services to be offered at the centre. The meeting also discussed the action by the Members of the Kisumu County Assembly in passing a motion that was presented by Hon.Farida Salim, Nominated MCA, to establish seven rescue centres across the county. IRC-PIK has linked Hon. Salim with NGEC who have shown the willingness in helping her to draft a bill on the motion passed so that the establishment of the rescue centres can be factored in the financial budget of 2016-2017 PIK encouraged the office of the Women Representative to work closely with the Gender Technical Working Group since it has a multi sectoral representation from both the state and non-state actors with expertise on GBV programming.
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AWC Editorial team discussing story and photo ideas for Tusemezane Magazine. PHOTO: george ngesa
Media agenda in PIK project giving SGBV visibility to a larger audience By Jane Godia
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or the past three years, African Woman and Child Feature Service (AWC) has been the media partner in the Peace Initiative Kenya (PIK) project.
Since the project started, the task ahead for AWC was huge because it was started just as the country was heading for the 2013 General Election. According to Arthur Okwemba, Executive Director AWC, the biggest challenge was making journalists and newsroom managers to understand the mission and vision of the PIK project.
“Through this project, about 81 journalists were trained on reporting Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV),”says Okwemba. He adds: “Thirty one editors were also sensitised on the nature, magnitude and visibility of SGBV in the county.” Trained However, the PIK project was not going to be successful with the media team alone. Implementing partner organisations had to be trained on communication and media skills; they included over 12 staff from local organisations working on the project. Speaking at the PIK
Partners’ meeting in Nairobi, Okwemba notes that beyond the training it was also important to have wider conversations around SGBV. That engagement was done through radio talk-shows because the medium reaches the widest audience among all other media outlets. “There have been over 25 radio talk-shows whose aim was to create visibility and dialogue around prevention, response and management of specific SGBV issues,” explains Okwemba, noting the target of 15 shows that was initially set was surpassed. There were a few successes during the project’s implementation period that
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enhanced
performance. One of them was the good working relations with the media which resulted in getting more radio slots than had been anticipated. “That is why we surpassed the target of 15 radio talk shows. As a result of this there was enhanced visibility of the issues on various radio platforms in English, Kiswahili and vernacular stations,” he notes. According to Okwemba, working with a select group of journalists who had been trained and their interest in reporting SGBV enhanced also helped in generation of content around this area for Tusemezane and the other two online publications by AWC, namely, Reject and Kenyan Woman. Expands dialogue As a media partner, AWC has been producing the PIK magazine — Tusemezane Magazine. “This magazine documents, informs, influences and expands dialogue around SGBV and particularly on the issues PIK partner organisations work around,” Okwemba explains. The Executive Director observes.: “Every issue of Tusemezane is e-mailed to about 2,000 people where downloads and impressions for each issue is between 300 and 900.” The top reader locations for Tusemezane are Kenya, USA, Nigeria, United Kingdom, South Africa, Israel, Swaziland and Norway. Other factors that helped the media pay more attention to SGBV issues included calendar days such as the 16-Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence. According to Okwemba, the special calendar 6
AWC helped in publication of Tusemezane Magazine which highlighted PIK activities and issues around SGBV. Photo Jane Godia.
days made it easy to get buy-ins from media houses. “It also directed the attention of journalists to write or air on radio and television as many stories as possible on SGBV, which became a blessing for Tusemezane.” He notes: “By having a magazine that focuses purely on GBV has been an incentive for media practitioners to write on these issues knowing very well that they will get a platform to publish them.” However, despite the above mentioned success, a few challenges made it hard for AWC to fulfill its mandate. Failure to appreciate newsworthiness of certain
GBV issues by journalists and partners affected the production of some news features and stories. “In turn this affected speed at which Tusemezane magazine was published hence affecting production timelines,” says Okwemba. Media fatigue Another challenge was the media fatigue that was experienced after 16-Days of Activism against GBV. According to the AWC Executive Director, after that intense campaign period, the media felt GBV stories had been given sufficient coverage and should now be sent to the back banner. “We had to convince them to agree to publish or even assign journalists to cover events where GBV issues were being
By having a magazine that focuses purely on GBV has been an incentive for media practitioners to write on these issues knowing very well that they will get a platform to publish them.”
discussed,” he recalls. Other than the radio talkshows and normal media activities, AWC has also been running the online platform that is having people sign in to the petition calling for the establishment of a Gender Crimes Unit by the Kenya Police Service. So far, over 2,100 have signed up. The next step is to present the draft petition to the Inspector General of Police and other relevant authorities. However, there have been challenges in signing the petition. According to Okwemba, signing of the petition depended on emotional moments and when those moments faded, and then interest and commitment to GBV issues waned. “This affected the on-line signing of the petition which stagnated for a couple of weeks since there was no emotional issue to give it the impetus it required,” Okwemba observed. He notes: “This dragged the realisation of achieving our targets.”
Arthur Okwemba, Executive Director ISSUE 12
PROMOTING A SOCIETY FREE OF GENDER VIOLENCE
Irene Magut on the road walked at Rural Women Peace Link
Mrs Irene Magut- Council of Elders Nandi. photo:george ngesa
By Odhiambo Orlale
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or the past three years, campaigning against Gender Based Violence has been Irene Magut’s passion as a former teacher and board member at Rural Women Peace Link (RWPL).
As a board member of the non-governmental organization based in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, Magut has also traversed neighbouring counties of Nandi and Trans Nzoia, leading the campaign against Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), which is still practiced in some parts of counties within the North Rift region. “Our work has forced us to travel to far-flung areas of Mt Elgon in Bungoma and West Pokot counties to unearth and address problems facing rural women and girls.” Rural Women Peace Link was started in 1992 and
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focused on peace issues in the North Rift region following the tribal clashes related to the General Elections. Magut is one of the 13 board members at Rural Women Peace Link with the board chair being Dolphina Alego, a former magistrate, deputised by John Nyandoro, an Eldoret-based lawyer. Mary Chepkwony is one of the founder members and is also Deputy Director of RWPL. Others who have been co-opted include Rosemary Cheptai from Mt Elgon (Bungoma County), and Esther
Kangogo, from Burnt Forest (Uasin Gishu County). Peace advocacy However, RWPL has been deeply involved in the Peace Initiative Kenya (PIK) project. Three years ago, RWPL teamed up with PIK to include GBV and FGM prevention programmes in its peace advocacy programmes in the three counties of Uasin Gishu, Nandi and Trans Nzoia. The organisation has donors that have supported other programmes. According to Magut, the RWPL is multiethnic and half of the board members are men.” Magut notes: “For a long
We are able to work towards having peaceful communities with the support of PIK project. Irene Magut’s passion as a former teacher and board member at Rural Women Peace Link (RWPL
time GBV programming has been seen as a woman’s issue and that is the reason why RWPL has involved men as members of the board since they recognize the role of men in GBV prevention and response.” Looking back, Magut observes that one of their biggest success stories has been reaching out to women on issues of early preparedness on issues of Peace and GBV prevention and Response “We were able to promote peace with support of PIK project which is led by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and funded by USAID. We are happy that the elections were peaceful,” Magut recalls. Get more women Another success in my line of work with other project that RWPL does is the capacitybuilding programmes for women aspirants for the County Assembly, parliamentary, gubernatorial and Senate seats. “We were also able to get more women to stand for elections, even though many did not make it. It’s regrettable that the better ones of the losers were left out during nominations,” she observes. Rural Women Peace Link has mentorship programmes for over 100 students who include vulnerable boys and also rescuing girls who escaped FGM and forced marriages. The organisation has assisted by getting sponsors and safe houses for GBV and FGM survivors. So far, RWPL has managed to follow up many GBV cases in court. One of the most successful being that of a father who was jailed for 51 years for defiling his daughter. The latter was informed by an TURN TO PAGE 8>>
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assessment of GBV in Nandi County that indicated it was leading in GBV cases in the country. Specific forms of Sexual and Gender Based Violence cases were cited as defilement that leads to early marriages and teenage pregnancy, rape and FGM. “Some of the major issues raised in the report were that of child and early marriages of girls below 18 years being on the increase,” observes Magut. She explains: “We were informed of cases of girls as young as eight and nine-years-old .” Magut notes: “I am appealing to the adults to protect and respect the rights of the children,I am certain that this will reduce cases of defilement,early and unplanned pregnancies and early/forced marriages” In her other role as a member of the Nandi Kaburwo — Council of Elders — Magut has led RWPL to schools in the region in the campaign against GBV.They have also mentored schoolgirls encouraging them to study hard and avoid being led astray through peer pressure and by the society as a whole. Asked if she has any regrets in the work she has been doing around peace building and fighting to reduce GBV, Magut says: “Not really, when we started our work as a community based organisation (CBO), we
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RWPL board member, Irene Magut, addressing an antiGBV and anti-FGM public forum in a church in Nandi County. photo:george ngesa
may have made some mistakes, but we learnt and have never looked back. We wish we would have more funding to continue with the projects.” Demonized However, Magut regrets that some of the local nongovernmental organisations including Rural Women Peace Link are demonized by politicians because of the controversial Kenyan case in the International Criminal Court at The Hague, in The Netherlands. She recalls that several offices were raided and vital documents stolen at the height of the ICC case.
These events forced RWPL office at Bargetuny Plaza in the central business district in Eldoret to be moved to the outskirts of town. Asked what she would do differently, Magut says: “I would not do anything differently, but would do things more vigorously.” She explains: “Specifically, I would focus on civic education, empowering the communities so that they can take part in decision making through knowledge.” The war against FGM and GBV is not ending anytime soon and Magut offers her advice on what needs to be
done to deter sex pests and perpetrators of violence. More men on board “The unfinished business is that we need more men on board to assist in this war,” says Magut. She adds: “We got better results when we had more men on board to work with women.” Magut observes that the anti-GBV laws and policies are good but the problem is implementation. “We need the support of everyone to succeed,” Magut says and adds that retrogressive culture and male chauvinism are still a big problem in the anti-GBV and FGM war”.
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PROMOTING A SOCIETY FREE OF GENDER VIOLENCE
RAPADO organises men to raise engagement in GBV prevention
PIK officials at a sensitisation forum in Kuria West, Migori County, during the Day of the African child where issues of FGM and child marriages featured prominently. photo: christine ogutu
By Jane Godia
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he curtain is about to fall on the three-year old Peace Initiative Kenya (PIK) Project’s advocacy in the peace and anti-Gender Based Violence (GBV) campaigns.
Prior to the 2013 General Election, the project ensured peace prevailed before, during and after the polls, in addition to promoting prevention and response to GBV across the country. The vision of the project, which is implemented by various organisations led by the International Rescue Committee (IRC), was to ensure that the nation is free from all forms of GBV including Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The project would not have achieved its objectives without the input of its local partners working in the designated nine counties of Mombasa, Kwale, Taita-Taveta, Migori, Kisii, Kisumu, Uasin Gishu, Nandi
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and Trans-Nzoia Counties. It is through concerted efforts that the PIK partners held joint meetings and came up with various advocacy methods and tools to ensure that the ultimate goal was achieved. In Migori County, for example, PIK has been working with the Rural Aids Prevention and Development Organisation (RAPADO) in the efforts that make true the old adage ‘many hands make light work’. Ensure Though a late entrant into the PIK family, having joined in April 2015, RAPADO would not be derailed by the short time to project closure. They had to ensure that their footsteps left a mark as the curtains comes to a close. In being innovative, RAPADO ensured that it followed PIK’s motto of targeting women and men as partners in GBV prevention and management. In its unique innovative way, RAPADO scaled-up male
engagement in the project after realising that although men and women were all victims of Gender Based Violence, women and girls remain disproportionately affected with majority of the perpetrators being men and boys. According to Gloria Ochola, project officer in Governance and Democratisation Programme at RAPADO, GBV must be understood within the context of men’s and women’s relative social and economic disadvantage. Says Ochola: “Addressing GBV requires understanding and challenging gender inequality, promoting women’s equal rights and creating social, political and economic environment in which everyone is empowered to enjoy those rights.” She notes that at RAPADO, they also focus on empowering men with information on GBV prevention and response. “Men are identified during
community awareness forums and engaged to champion against all forms of violence in the county, since in most cases they are the perpetrators of these injustices,” Ochola observes. She adds: “Working with men to address GBV is important in order to change behaviour as well as get their assistance in strengthening community institutions that can address GBV and get them involved in promoting women’s equality and leadership.” There are several other reasons for engaging men in the fight against GBV and these include: reducing the violence; their participation helps to avoid a backlash against violence against a women’s only program; men often hold more power and influence in a home or community and can be more effective as change agent. “Engaging men supports the social reintegration of survivors who are often ostracized by their husbands or families,” says Ochola. Social change She explains: “If social change is to be sustained, it is important to engage the whole community — not only one half, namely women — including the most influential power brokers.” Through male engagement, RAPADO has also identified a certain category of men who are referred to as “male champions” in the war against GBV. Ochola explains: “Male champions are the persons identified to respond to and prevent GBV cases in the county. Currently we have 466 male champions who are involved in continuous GBV 9
PROMOTING A SOCIETY FREE OF GENDER VIOLENCE
County), Nyabende Support Programmes (Kisumu County) and Rural Aids Prevention and Development Organisation (Migori County). The project though being implemented nationally has had a huge concentration in the nine counties of Kisumu, Migori, Kisii, Trans-Nzoia, Nandi, Uasin Gishu, Mombasa, Kwale and Taita Taveta.
Community Activists during a Gender Based Violence prevention and response workshop organized by PIK in Kisii County. Photo: ben oroko
Training manual to scale up PIK advocacy in war against GBV By Jane Godia
W
hen Peace Initiative Kenya (PIK) project was established about three years ago, it had a vision and mission that centred on ensuring that Kenya is a nation free from all forms of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV).
It also aimed at improved national and county-level GBV service delivery systems and policy implementation. These would be achieved through the project’s objectives of strengthening county engagement
It is important to have countyspecific laws to aide in addressing Gender Based Violence in Kisumu,” Farida Ahmed Salim, Nominated Member of County Assembly (MCA). 10
in preventing and responding to GBV as well as increasing access and utilization of GBV services through community outreach among other efforts in raising awareness. The project is being implemented under a consortium of partners who include African Woman and Child Feature Service (AWCFS), Healthcare Assistance Kenya (HAK), Rural Women Peace Link (RWPL), Sauti ya Wanawake Pwani (SYWP), Women Empowerment Link (WEL) and African Women Entrepreneurship Programme (AWEP). This year three new partners, that are community based organisations, joined the PIK family.They are Amjutine Children Care and Protection Centre (Kisii
Training manual However, having realised that they need to do more to address GBV, the PIK-led organizations, with support of implementing partners and USAID developed a training manual titled: My Action Counts: A Training Handbook on Tackling Gender Based Violence in Kenya. So far the manual has been used in GBV stakeholders’ training workshops held in Kisii, Mombasa and Kisumu. In reference to the workshop that was recently held by stakeholders in Kisumu, the main objective of the workshop was to train county government officials and legislators on strategies for GBV prevention and response at the county level. According to IRC, the trainings were intended to get a well-informed audience that understands and is knowledgeable on GBV prevention and response. The training manual would also be disseminated through different stakeholders who can then mainstream it in their various programs. IRC officers say that training targets all counties where PIK is being implemented. So far Kisii, Mombasa and Kisumu counties have hosted the training workshops. In Kisii the training targeted community activists as well as county and executive administrators. In Mombasa the target group was community activists within the Sauti Chapters from the Coastal region including L a m u TURN TO PAGE 11>>
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and Kilifi counties. Those who benefitted from the trainings in Kisumu County were county staff from different departments such as survey, agriculture, health and education as well as office of the governor’s spouse, office of the deputy governor, community activists, police and Members of the County Assembly. Response Various committees within the County Assembly leadership such as Justice and Legal Affairs as well as Gender and Culture were also included. The training workshops are in line with PIK’s vision and mission of ensuring county and national government as well as the community have an elevated way of response and prevention to GBV. The handbook is intended as a resource for participants, who, after the training will use it to enhance their knowledge and skills in handling GBV matters, including case management or even management of cases he manual is intended to facilitate dialogue and deeper conversations on GBV and gender relations across the country.
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There is no justification to rape a woman just because she has worn a short dress.” Caren Omanga, Chairperson Nyabende Support Programmes, The training manual is also an advocacy tool to be used by communities and rights holders in urging duty bearers to make adequate provisions for the prevention of, and response to GBV in getting a better review under their respective counties. The training was also to enhance and propel establishing and strengthening mechanisms on GBV prevention and response. Policies in place Those who spoke during the interactive training session in Kisumu indicated that Sexual and Gender Based Violence must be addressed from all fronts, including having laws and policies in place.
“It is important for the county government to know how to address Gender Based Violence issues,” noted Lucy Matengo, Chief OfficerGender in Kisumu County. The participants in Kisumu were also urged to advocate against retrogressive cultural practices (myths around GBV) that have no basis in law. There was also a call for countyspecific laws that would aid in addressing GBV. “It is important to have county-specific laws to aide in addressing Gender Based Violence in Kisumu,” said Farida Ahmed Salim, Nominated Member of County Assembly (MCA). Single cause The participants reiterated that there is no single cause or reason for a woman to be violated. There are those who have used poverty as an excuse to perpetuate violence. However, this should not be the case. According to Caren Omanga, Chairperson Nyabende Support Programmes, nobody should “justify issues of defilement with poverty to avert justice”. Omanga noted that rape and defilement can only end if stern
action is taken to end the vice. Justification Her sentiments were echoed by Rebecca Didi Odongo, Personal Assistant of the governor’s spouse, who noted: “There is no justification to rape a woman just because she has worn a short dress.” The issue of GBV being normalised and shrouded under a cloud of silence must end.This was reiterated by Joyce Cherono, a police officer based at the Gender Desk, Kondele Police Station who noted that there must be male involvement in advocacy around GBV. “There is need for male survivors to break the silence on GBV issues in Kisumu County. They should come out and get help,” said Cherono. Realising that statistics of SGBV from the county were worrying, the stakeholders promised to scale up the war against the vice by using the training manual. They vowed to unite and join hands as a way of addressing GBV. This was emphasized by the MCAs in attendance and the Kisumu County Executive Committee Ministry of Education, Gender, Youth Culture, and Sports.
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PIK partner ensures perpetrator gets punishment for sexual violence By Christine Ogutu
I
t took a lot of bravery for ten-year old Tina (not her real name) to speak up against the man who defiled her.
“Her courage bore the fruits of justice after a two year judicial process that saw my daughter and I go through intimidation from our clan members and her schoolmates,” says Awinja (not her real name), Tina’s mother. According to Awinja, the ordeal left her daughter psychologically traumatised. “Her schoolmates teased her on why she spoke against the perpetrator, while his relatives piled pressure on me to have an out of court settlement,” says Awinja.“However, I kept on the fight in the hope that justice will be served.” Ill intentions Two years ago, eight-yearold Tina in the company of her cousin went to a nearby forest to fetch firewood. This was at around 4.00pm when an 18-year-old neighbour approached them. He called Tina to the side and told her to follow him a few metres away. In her innocence Tina could not suspect that he had ill intentions. It was here that he defiled and left her crying in pain. By the time Tina’s cousin came to her rescue, it was too late as the deed had been done. With the support of her cousin, the two girls were able to walk back home where they reported what had transpired to Tina’s uncle. He then took the young girl to the market place where 12
A sign board outside the Nyando Law Courts in Ahero town, Kisumu County where Tina’s case was heard and determined. Photo Valine Moraa. PHOTO: CHRISTINE OGUTU
her mother trades. On being informed what had happened to her daughter, Awinja immediately rushed her to the nearby dispensary where it was confirmed that she had been defiled. Tina was immediately given treatment and afterwards they went to report the case at the police station where a P3 form was filled and the perpetrator arrested the same night of the incident. The following day he was taken to Nyando Law Courts, Kisumu County where the judge ordered that he be remanded at Kodiaga Prison pending hearing of the case, as he was unable to raise bail. The arrest helped calm Tina’s fears for a short time as the perpetrator was soon able to raise enough money to be released on bail. Soon he and his clan’s men started threatening Tina’s mother demanding that she drops the case. Awinja was shaken and confused not knowing where to seek help as the harassment continued.
“The clan elders came threatening me that the perpetrator was an orphan hence we should sit down as a clan and have the matter settled out of court,” recalls Awinja. She adds: “I was afraid of what would happen to my daughter after the paedophile was released and all the clan elders ganged up against me for being adamant on proceeding with the legal process.” Case withdrawn It was around this time that Caren Omanga, chairperson of Nyabende Support Programmes got wind of the plans by clan elders to have the case withdrawn and settled out of court. “I came to know of the plans by the elders through the area chief who has been working closely with us in addressing response and prevention to Gender Based Violence (GBV),” says Omanga. Omanga took up the case and ensured that it went
through the court process. She would drop by the market place where Awinja sells tomatoes and vegetables just to check up on and give her psychosocial support. Perpetrator At one point, Awinja had been misinformed by a court officer that her daughter’s case file was lost but as it was to be confirmed later by Omanga, the file was not lost. It was just a ploy by the officer to have Awinja give up on following the court proceedings. “I would hear from the villagers that the perpetrator had reported to them that the case file got lost and the case could not continue and it would be just a matter of time before the case was thrown out of court,” Awinja recalls. Omanga stood her ground, intent to follow up with the court amidst the confusion and rumours spread within the community by the perpetrator and his relatives. ISSUE 12
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Tina did not have a lawyer to represent her in court, but had a paralegal, Omanga, who gave her legal advice. She would advise Awinja on what to do and keep her updated with the court process. She would also counsel Tina as she prepared to give her account in court on what transpired. For two years, Omanga stood by Awinja and her daughter even as the case met setback after setback at the Nyando Law Courts. The delivery of the sentence was delayed several times as the perpetrator boasted that he would never be convicted for the crime. Many a time the court process would stop or be delayed on grounds that the accused was sick or unable to attend court sessions. However, on July 2015, the tides turned in favour of Tina.The accused was found guilty of defilement by the court and sentenced to life imprisonment. “The sentencing was a relief as justice prevailed. I no longer have to worry that the perpetrator will walk scot free and continue to intimidate me and my daughter, and probably continue to defile other children in the village,” says Awinja. Today, Omanga through Nyabende Support Programmes takes Tina through psycho-social support to allow her heal from the abuse. She has since been transferred to another school to avoid being stigmatised by her schoolmates. Nyabende Support Programmes is a community based organisation and a an implementing partner of the Peace Initiative Kenya project based in Kisumu County. Working in line with the PIK project’s mission and vision, Nyabende works to provide legal and psychosocial support to survivors of GBV. It works with men and women in the community as well as county and national government structures to create an enabling environment for coordination of GBV response and prevention.
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A beneficiary of AWEP’s training, Cecilia Nekesa (right) , in Mukuru Kwa Njenga slums in Nairobi, displays her chicken ready for sale to AWEP coordinator Susan Owuor. Photo: courtesy of awep
AWEP goes to the rescue of Nairobi slum women By Henry Kahara
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or the past eight months women in Mukuru Kwa Njenga slums in Nairobi have been engaged in a pilot project to empower them.
After training, the women were given KSh20,000 seed capital for business. One woman who has benefitted from the programme is Cecilia Nekesa. Prior to the African Women Entrepreneurship Programme (AWEP) Kenya chapter training, Nekesa would just sit at home, most probably sleeping in until late morning as she did not
have much to do. However, things changed the minute she interacted with AWEP and now she has to wake up early to complete domestic chores before starting on her business. “I usually wake up at 5am every morning to prepare my children for school before embarking on my daily business,” says Nekesa, a mother of two. She adds: “AWEP opened my eyes. They have trained and helped me to see the many opportunities that have always been there but I had turned a blind eye to,” Looking at her life now, Nekesa says she has come a
long way from the days when she would sleep hungry with no stable means of eking out a living. “AWEP changed my life. They breathed life in my hopelessness,” she says noting that her life took a new direction immediately she engaged with them. Pilot project Nekesa is among a group of slum women beneficiaries who are in the pilot project being undertaken by AWEP to make them financially independent. AWEP notes that when a woman is financially independent, earning her own money then TURN TO PAGE 14>>
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she can live better her life. “They gave me a grant of Shs20,000 which I used to start my mandazi (buns) business and rearing chicken,” Nekesa recalls with pride. Today she has 40 hens. “I first bought two hens — male and female. The hen laid eggs and after few weeks it hatched 12 chicks,” says Nekesa during an interview with Tusemezane. She explains: “Some of them died, but I am happy that eight survived. Now these eight are big hens and they too are laying eggs.” Nekesa shares her house with the hens and this then brings to reality the need to work hard since she has to clean the house every day to avoid the foul smell. Earn an income “I live in a slum. The space is quite small so I am forced to wake up very early and clean the house which I share with the hens,” she says. “In the morning I let them out to graze and they return in the evening when darkness approaches.” Nekesa is happy that the chicken are now laying eggs, which she sells to earn an income. “I sell an egg at KSh15. Currently I never lack money to buy basic items,” she notes. At the same time her mandazi business is thriving and she is able to make an average of KSh500 every day. “Before I met AWEP I used to rely on casual jobs like washing people’s clothes but sometimes it would be hard to
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get the part time work,” Nekesa says. Asked what she did to ensure that the chickens survived, Nekesa said: “I went to a veterinary doctor in town. He advised me on the kind of food to give my chicks and I have seen it working,” Nekesa explains adding she has a specific agrovet shop where she buys chicken feed and other items. Nekesa’s story echoes that of 49-year-old Margret Awinja who makes dresses and bags from her house within the Mukuru kwa Njenga slum. Also a beneficiary of the AWEP training, Awinja was an ordinary business woman who was struggling before AWEP came into the scene and saved her business. She now has resources to meet big orders. Awinja has been getting orders from as far as Uganda
and ensures she delivers them on time. “The problem with most of us is lack of funds. We can work but delivering big orders has been a challenge because we our income is limited,” she says. Awinja was introduced to the Ugandan deal by a woman friend who she fellowships with in church. “The woman who hails from Uganda connected me with her Uganda church choir which was in need of vitengees (African fabric clothes),”explains Awinja who was sure that she would deliver the tender. Buy materials “I received KSh20,000 seed capital from AWEP and added this to the little saving that I had. This would help me buy the materials and deliver the order,” she explains.
Prior to the AWEP intervention, Awinja did various odd jobs which gave her a headstart to save KSh500 per week. “I also make soap in the house and sell it to neighbours while the remainder I use in the house,” she reveals. Through the training she received from AWEP, Awinja has been able to not only cut her budget but also make the extra shilling. This has helped to improve her life and health. According to Nancy Gitonga, Executive Director AWEP Kenya Chapter, their aim is to empower more women so that they can live a better life. “When you empower a woman you empower a family and a community as well,” says Gitonga.
AWEP Executive director, Nancy Gitonga (centre) addressing PIK Chief of Party, Jebiwot Sumbeiywo (second left) and her team products made by beneficiaries. Photo: courtesy awep
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Tom Ogam, Assistant Chief Kakmia , Kisumu County during an interview with Tusemezane Magazine. Picture Valine Moraa Photo: VALINE MORAA
WhatsApp comes in handy for Chief in the frontline of anti-GBV war By Christine Ogutu
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hile many men will shy away from addressing issues related to Gender Based Violence, Assistant Chief Tom Ogam stands tall in Kisumu County for his passion in the anti-GBV campaign.
Ogam, who is the Assistant
The trainings empowered me on issues related to GBV. They provided a platform for me to build community networks that have so far been effective in stemming in my area of jurisdiction.” Tom Ogam, Assistant Chief Kakmia , Kisumu County ISSUE 12
Chief in Kakmia, Nyando Sub-County, Kisumu County, has taken it upon himself to ensure that rape suspects and perpetrators of other forms of GBV are brought to book. He ensures that due process is followed to the letter so that justice prevails. In his capacity as an administrator, Ogam is a happy man as his efforts have not been in vain. This is particularly due to his partnering with Peace Initiative Kenya (PIK) project through the local implementing organisation Nyabende Support Programmes. The organization has a network of 35 community activists who rescue, refer and
provide psycho-social as well as para-legal support to survivors of GBV. Through Nyabende Support Programmes, Ogam is one of the male champions in Kisumu County, having attended a stakeholders’ training on strengthening referral mechanisms of GBV cases as well as issues on the rights of women and girls. “The trainings empowered me on issues related to GBV,” says Ogam. He explains: “They provided a platform for me to build community networks that have so far been effective in stemming the vice in my area of jurisdiction.” Ensure justice Through these efforts, Ogam envisions a society free of GBV, saying he is always addressing the vice to ensure justice is served to survivors, their families and the community. Ogam knows that he cannot win the war on GBV alone and works closely with the TURN TO PAGE 16>>
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community. Community leaders like Ogam recognizes the importance of a competent person who is able to understand the culture and bring authority to stamp out retrogressive cultural practices and resolve conflicts that would otherwise tear down a people’s way of life. The role of chiefs as lawenforcers cannot be understated when it comes to addressing Gender Based Violence. Chiefs are the people’s representative. They are accessible, respected and legitimate members of the administration and hence have the mandate to enforce laws and policies at the community level. Being the custodians of the law, they are often the first point of entry to receiving GBV cases such as defilement, rape and domestic violence among others. Prevention It is for this reason that Peace Initiative Kenya (PIK) project has been working closely with the local administration that includes chiefs and their assistants in the prevention of and response to GBV. Ogam notes that for a long time perceptions and myths around GBV have hindered access to justice for survivors. Ogam has received many reports from the public protesting against with the manner in which the police and other administrators, like himself, handle GBV cases in the area. They have also accused the police of delaying to act on GBV cases, especially defilement and rape cases, and of releasing suspects under dubious circumstances. “It is, therefore, a challenge when I take such cases to the 16
police. Sometimes survivors will refuse to record statements and would rather withdraw due to issues of trust and ignorance of the whole process of the criminal justice system,” he explains. Many cases of defilement go unreported due to stigma with most parents opting to avoid the courts and instead settling cases out of court. It is for this reason that Ogam has been using the weekly community barazas (meetings) to demystify myths and misconceptions about GBV. He has used the platforms to advocate for the community to use the legal process instead of settling cases through the kangaroo courts. However, despite these efforts there are still underlying challenges that he has to grapple with in dispensing his responsibility as an administrator and law enforcer. Among the challenges is
validating the identification of the offenders. He says some of them are labourers employed without identification cards and when they commit crimes it is hard to assess their age, a factor that leads to delaying the court processes which provides loopholes for wrong judgment since handling juvenile offenders is under the Children’s Act. Challenge Another challenge is that most clinical officers are reluctant to sign the P3 and Post Rape Care (PRC) forms because they want to avoid being designated as prime witnesses to testify in court. Ogam notes that this is frustrating to some of the medical officers because of their workload while some health workers are not well versed with the court procedures. The other challenge is the unavailability of rescue centres
in Kisumu County. Though notable strides have been made by the Kisumu County Assembly in passing a motion that calls for the establishment of sub-county rescue centres for GBV survivors, Ogam notes that what is pending is the implementation. “Most GBV survivors are vulnerable and more prone to repeated attacks and some can lose their lives in the process if not provided with safe shelters,” Ogam observes. He reiterates: “There is need for such people to urgently access rescue centres to get psychosocial support urgently.” Ogam lauds the PIK project for the approach it has used to address GBV both at the national and county level. He would like PIK to organize more awareness creation and sensitization platforms at the grassroots that would bring all the organs of the community to speak out on the impact of GBV
A chief addresses community activists at an anti-GBV training in Migori County. Photo: valine moraa
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Pictorial
Community activists making presentation during a GBV training in Migori. Photo: valine moraa
Josephine Ombati, an MCA in Kisii County, addressing women leaders forum organised by AMJUTUNE under the PIK programme. Photo: valine moraa
Wendy Auma, project officer of IRC, with students of St Mary’s Mabera in Migori County after a sensitisation forum. Photo: Christine Ogutu
George Orude, Gender & Civic Education Officer while at the PIK GBV stakeholders training in Kisumu County.
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PIK staff at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Referal Hospital’s gender based violence centre GBVRC). Photo: courtesy of PIK.
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Merida Omalie, Chairperson of Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organization, Kuria Sub-County, at her home during the interview on her campaign against GBV and woman-to-woman marriages in the area. Photo: miller omega
How woman-towoman marriages are escalating GBV By Miller Omega
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hen a teenage mother from Kuria community explained to her new neighbours in Kericho town that she had escaped from an abusive marriage with another woman who was “her husband”, she was considered weird.
Mana Boke, now in her 30s, says she escaped from Kibintu Village, Kuria West Sub-county when she was forced by an uncle to marry an elderly woman in the traditional practice which is commonly referred as nyumba mboke. “I only knew of the arrangement when my uncle 18
told me an elderly woman who had not been blessed with children was willing to pay a lucrative bride price for my hand in marriage,” Boke narrates. Being the first born daughter, the pressure to be married and support her other siblings and sickly mother was too much to
bear. “I started to fend for my family at the age of 10 years. Due to the vicious cycle of poverty I had to drop out of school to support my sick mother,” Boke recalls. However, when the issue of forced marriage came up, she feared and fled to Kericho at the age of 15. However, life for a teenager in Kericho town is not easy and Boke realized that
“I got pregnant; with no money to survive on, I found it viable to marry the elderly woman. My family was attracted by the huge bride price, which I was never told of how much it was. Mana Boke,
she had return home since she had nobody to support her.The guilt of leaving behind an ailing mother also became too much. “I got pregnant; with no money to survive on, I found it viable to marry the elderly woman. My family was attracted by the huge bride pri ce, which I was never told of how much it was,” Boke says. Once she was married off, her elderly “husband” procured for her a male member of her (husband’s) family to help sire children for her, as is required by custom and tradition. “The man was the brother to the woman I was married to. He came into my house without any emotional attachment and support to ensure I copulate with him before leaving for his family,” Boke narrates. They had two children, but differences with the man and Boke’s “husband”saw the union crumble. “I was often physically and emotionally abused as I was left alone to fend for my three children. Unable to bear the ISSUE 12
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violence I ran away and went back to my father’s home” Boke explains. Boke would later marry another man for nine years and have another two more children after he promised to take care of her and their children. However, this union would also end in separation. Being a single mother now, Boke says her current predicament is caused by the nyumba boke culture. It is only when she got in touch with Gokeharaka Central and South (GOCESO), a local community based organization headed by Merida Omalie, who is also the Chairperson of Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Kuria East Sub-county, that she realised her rights had been trampled upon. Through GOCESO Boke has been empowered and now understands her rights. Trained and mentored Rural Aids Prevention and Development Organisation (RAPADO), an implementing organisation of the Peace Initiative Kenya (PIK) project in Migori County has been working with various organisations to address the question of violence against women including that of violence in woman-to-woman marriages. Through the PIK project, RAPADO enlists the community in prevention of and response to Gender Based Violence through engaging men and women as key stakeholders. Omole Opinya, programme officer Advocacy and Partnerships at RAPADO says: “As an organisation, RAPADO has been working with Gosece Women’s Group.” It’s one of the women’s groups which RAPADO has trained and mentored in GBV ISSUE 12
prevention and response. He explains: “We have equally worked with Gocese leaders to increase access to and utilization of GBV services through community outreaches and awareness raising in Kuria.” According to Omole, Gosece is one of the women’s organizations in RAPADO’s database of grassroots organizations. Essentially, the women’s organisations contribute to ending nyumba mboke practices in Kuria. The women’s groups educate women on their rights and empower them in addition to having programmes to rescue girls and women who are survivors of GBV. Capacity building “We have also involved representatives of the group in capacity building forums including in areas of child protection and GBV prevention,” says Omole. According to Omalie many girls are forced into early marriages due to poverty in their families. Omalie notes that there is a lot of violence in the community
but many people tend to concentrate on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and other forms Gender Based Violence within normal marriages. She says violence within the nyumba mboke arrangement is never given due consideration. “Through the support of our women’s group we rescue girls at risk of being married to other women and put them under our care,” explains Omalie. “We then nurture their self-esteem from examples of women who have made great success in life but never went through the knife or forced marriage.” Omalie identifies Kubira Village in Kuria East Subcounty as one of the hot spots where it is very common for barren elderly woman to look for a young girl and pay bride price to her parents. “She pays bridal wealth in the form of cattle to the parents of the girl. This is also practiced among elderly couples who do not have children,” Omalie explains. “Once the girl is taken to the new home, a search is put in place for a suitable man so they can bear “grandchildren” for the elderly woman or
couple.” According to Omalie the girl is never given the right to choose her desired partner and has no say over who should sire her children. In short “she is tossed from one male family member to another”. Challenge “The man chosen is solely on the discretion of the elderly woman. If she is not impressed then she can chase him away and procure another husband in a very short notice,” Omalie reveals. The nyumba mboke remains a challenge for many women and girls. A woman can end up having several “husbands” and sex partners procured by her “husband”, which increases risk of getting pregnant and/or contracting sexually transmitted diseases including HIV AIDS. “Most victims are school dropouts or under-age girls with early pregnancies. At times they are chosen at a tender age of five years and dowry paid in instalments,” says Omalie. She adds: “Such victims lack voice to decide their fate.”
Participants share views at a women’s’ community forum organized by PIK in Kuria West sub- County, Migori County. Photo: valine moraa
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Pastor Job Odindo facilitating a PIK GBV Stakeholders training held in Kisumu. Photo: cHRiSTINE OGUTU
Turning the tide on Gender Based Violence from the pulpit: Pastor Job Odindo’s Story By Valine Moraa
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s a religious leader in Ahero Town, Kisumu County, Pastor Job Odindo not only uses his vocational platform to preach the gospel but he also uses it to advocate against Gender Based Violence in the community.
The community has developed a trust in him and often reachs out to him for help with their problems, most of which are linked to domestic violence and defilement. A trained counsellor, Odindo is among 35 community activists in Kisumu County working under the Peace Initiative Kenya (PIK) project that is led by International Rescue Committee (IRC) with support of USAID. Through his engagement with the PIK project, Odindo has benefitted from three separate trainings. These include community 20
facilitation of peace and Gender Based Violence awareness campaign forums; community mobilization strategy using the Start Awareness Support Action (SASA!) model; as well as emergency response and preparedness. According to Odindo the trainings have not been in vain. “I use the knowledge gained from the trainings to address conflict and empower members of the community,” he says. Continuous violation Odindo’s interest in Gender Based Violence was kindled by the continuous violation meted against women and girls from his immediate surroundings. “I come from the Luo community and like other ethnic groups in Kenya and Africa at large, our cultural values and beliefs since time immemorial have promoted wife battering as a disciplinary action,” says Odindo. He notes: “This has led to the community
normalizing wife battering.” Odindo recalls: “When I was growing up, my father was violent to my mother. As time went on my elder brother married and he was also violent towards his wives.” He observes: “It was these experiences from my own family and other families that compelled me to take action to advocate against the vice.” Odindo explains: “I have extended advocacy against GBV to my congregation at Miracle Victory Church as well as the surrounding community on Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response.” He expounds: “I inform them on the different forms of GBV including physical, psychological and sexual abuse as well as the measures to take when such violations occur such as medical, physiological and legal support.” Among those who have
benefitted from Odindo’s intervention is Akello (not her real name), a mother of two daughters. Before reaching out to Odindo for help, Akello had undergone continuous physical and verbal abuse in the hands of her alcoholic husband. “On the day of the verdict, I approached the magistrate and expressed my willingness to forgive him after he had beaten me. The magistrate reconciled us in court and gave him a final warning against the abuse, failure to which he would be incarcerated,” explains Akello. She notes: “This was last year and up until now he has never physically or verbally abused me. He is now showing love towards me and our children.” Odindo observes that the PIK project has been instrumental in working with various stakeholders including religious leaders to end GBV and to promote peace. Important role Pastor Odindo, who is also the Nyando sub-county coordinator for the PIK project, notes that the church can play an important role in preventing and responding to violence. According to Odindo, he holds one-on-one counselling sessions with individuals or families, and if need be also organises group meetings with other religious leaders on how to deal with Gender Based Violence. “We hold monthly pastors’ caucus meeting which is an avenue that I use to sensitize and empower fellow pastors from other churches within the community on how they can address GBV,”says Odindo. As a result of this, other pastors always consult him when faced with GBV cases. They also invite him to minister to their congregation on matters concerning Gender Based Violence. ISSUE 12