Peace Initiative Kenya Breaking the silence: A Council of Elders opens F O up to tackle Gender Based Violence ORY T S PIK MONTH THE He adds that they also work closely with community 014 2 L I chiefs to address cases of GBV during community barazas and as R Story, photo and graphics design AP a result, ensure that perpetrators are brought to book through the by: Valine Moraa
For years, many communities have viewed issues of sexuality and discussions around sexual and gender based violence as taboo and shameful. This led to the continuation of gender based violence (GBV) cases with no involvement of decision makers, making many victims suffer in silence. However, this situation is slowly changing and issues are finding their way in forums of the holders of patriarchy such as the conservative Nandi Councils of Elders also known as Kaburwo.
court process. Peace Initiative Kenya (PIK) has linked them with different service providers including health institutions, counselling centres and pro bono lawyers where survivors are referred to seek medical, psychosocial and legal support.
Currently, Kaburwo is part of the Nandi Court Users Committee (CUC) convened by Nandi County Resident Magistrate and supported by PIK through funding of the meetings. The committee meets on a quarterly basis to discuss, review and agree on how best to address conflicts and issues of GBV in their community.
Rural Women Peace Link (RWPL), a local organization supported by USAID and International Rescue Committee under the Peace Initiative Kenya (PIK) project, has been instrumental in initiating dialogue with the Nandi Council of Elders -Kaburwo. RWPL has encouraged the Kaburwo to take part in the matter of GBV even if they did not identify this as their role initially. “Kaburwo have been active in RWPL forums on peace building, women rights advocacy and awareness creation towards ending gender based violence (GBV),” says Shaban Varajab, Program Officer at the RWPL. According to Mr. Joseph Tek, the Secretary of the Kaburwo, issues of sexuality and violence against women were never discussed publicly because they were considered shameful: “If these issues had to be discussed, women would do so in seclusion and so would men. They were never discussed among people of the opposite sex or in open forums,” says Tek.
Joseph Tek while speaking to a youth who visited his home in Nandi County
Tek points out that Kaburwo now use the knowledge received from the GBV and peace building forums to address cases of GBV in their community. “PIK has been an eye opener to the Nandi Community. We no longer refrain from talking about cases of defilement, rape or domestic violence during our community meetings, but rather address them openly. The change happened when we realised many people were suffering and we didn’t know it yet we were the leaders of this community, says Tek. Recently, two GBV cases were referred to the court through the Nandi Kaburwo: “The incidents involved rape and physical assault that took place between January and March 2014. We reported the matter to the police and now await the court process. Evidence on the violations was collected and has been well preserved,” notes Tek
Story point of interest
Kaburwo, are respected members of the Nandi Community whose roles varies from leadership, advisory and sanctioning perpetrators of various wrongs in the community.
The name Kaburwo is a Nandi word to mean ‘under a tree shade’.
For a person to qualify as a Kaburwo, he must be a prominent, educated male from one of the seventeen clans in the Nandi community and aged above 55 years.
Kaburwo has one nominated woman who represents the rest of the women in the Nandi community.
Kaburwo is registered by the Ministry of Labour, Security and Social Services under the Kenyan government.