Peace Initiative Kenya Magazine Volume 1, Issue 1

P EACE I NITIATIVE K ENYA

Voices from the Grassroots Volume 1, Issue 1

April 2013

Inside this issue: Migori County activists speak out

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SGBV rampant in Nakuru County

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Peace platform explores Peace and GBV 8 issues in Narok County Hotline 1195 launched to counter GBV in 9 Kenya Cattle rustling; the face of cross border conflicts in the South Rift

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FGM persist in Migori County despite Government ban

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PIK Project activities in Perspective

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Cover Photo Maasai women take part in the use the Ballot not my body campaign in Kajiado. Photo

by Esther Kimani/ Covaw/PIK

Word from the Editor, Voices from the grassroots is a compilation of selected stories on Peace Initiative Kenya (PIK) ’s work in the period of January to April 2013. In this first issue, PIK beneficiaries from the grassroots level will take you through brief narrations on page 3-5, about conflicts and Gender Based Violence (GBV) experienced in their communities and what they are doing to deal with this constructively.

Also get to learn about the similarities as well as differences on conflicts and GBV from across the counties where PIK is implemented.

Read this on pages 6, 8, 12 -17.

Still on GBV, turn to page 9 to meet Fanis Lisiagali; the founder of hotline 1195 that attends to GBV survivors. Discover why she started the hotline and how she is positively changing lives.

Last but not least, have an experience of PIK project activities in perspective. On page 18, find out how IRC Kenya program worked to put in place a contingency response in the run-up to Kenya’s 2013 general elections.

ABOUT PEACE INITIATIVE KENYA Peace Initiative Kenya (PIK) project aims at creating a more protective and peaceful environment in the period to Kenya’s elections and its thereafter. The project is funded by United States Agency International Development (USAID) and implemented by the International Rescue Committee (IRC), together with local partners; Coalition on Violence against Women (COVAW), the Federation of Women Lawyers – Kenya (FIDA), PeaceNet, and the Rural Women’s Peace Link (RWPL), Sauti Ya Wanawake, Pwani, African Woman and Child Feature Service and Well Told Story. The project covers 18 counties in Rift Valley, Nyanza, Nairobi informal settlements and the Coast regions, and nationwide to build capacity of women’s groups and networks to advocate for peace in their communities.

Project Goal To create and stimulate grassroots networks that have the capacity to prevent and mitigate violence, including GBV, in Kenya’s most conflictive zones during the pre- and post-election periods.

Project Objectives Develop a Peace Training Campaign targeting community youth, women leaders, teachers and community health volunteers at the village level Engage women’s groups and networks to help promote peace and GBV awareness and prevention Editor : John Harrington Ndeta

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The articles in this magazine were compiled by the PIK Peace and Media department team.

Voices from the Grassroots: April 2013

Design and Layout: Valine Moraa

PEACE INITIATIVE KENYA

Peace Initiative Kenya: Migori County grassroots activists speak In the last 9 Months, Peace Initiative Kenya (PIK) project has been imparting grassroots leaders with knowledge and skills on peace and conflict mitigation with a special focus on prevention of gender based violence. John Ndeta, the Peace and Media Coordinator spent some time in Migori County talking to some of the beneficiaries and the following is a first hand account of 4 actors in regard to their engagement with the project.

Paul Omole;

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was part of a group trained on peace and gender based violence in Nairobi in December 2012. After the training I returned to Nyanza region and trained 30 trainees in Kisumu and another 30 at Migori County. The Training Manual developed under Peace Initiative Kenya is self explanatory and very applicable on the ground. The manual helps the trainer to recall key issues on peace and GBV, engages the participants through group activities and gives exercises for the trainees to apply in their communities. I was able to sieve out real GBV and peace issues affecting my County and recommend appropriate ways of addressing the same. These include: cutthroat political competition, tribalism and negative ethnicity , cattle rustling, Female Genital mutilation. Child defilement and abuse and domestic violence Today, many youth in Migori are seeking to ensure that they are responsible Kenyans who are part of the solution and not just conflict perpetrators.

SASA ! Model : Start Awareness Support Action

Paul Omole is a trainer of trainees (TOT) African Centre for Volunteers as Program Officer based in Migori.

SASA! model is a community mobilization strategy. SASA! means Start, Awareness, Support and Action. SASA! Interrogates’ power imbalance between men and women that causes violence against women (VAW).

SASA! aims to prevent VAW in the community by thinking about the power within (oneself), the power over (knowledge and information), power with (support from others to change) and power to ( action).

SASA! uses four strategies; training, local activism through; dramas, community action groups, community conversations and quick charts, Communication material strategy which employs; card games, posters, comic sheets and picture cards and the media strategy which emphasize on the use of community local radio station. This model has been employed in PIK with good results on the ground. Under PIK project, COWAV is the partner responsible of implementing SASA! Model.

Don Sirati;

P Don Sirati; a retired teacher and Nyatike Peace ambassador with PeaceNet Kenya.

He is also a Trained ToT under Peace Initiative Kenya

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eace Initiative Kenya is such a noble initiative that has countered cultural practices and beliefs that have over the years allowed gender based violence to persist. Through this project we have understood our history as a community. We have had a sad past- fighting against each other and oppressing women in the name of culture, like FGM and wife inheritance. Personally, I would not want us to go to the past dark experiences like the ones of 2007/8.

Community members have been awakened through awareness campaigns

Voices from the Grassroots: April 2013

PEACE INITIATIVE KENYA

on peace and gender based violence, SASA trainings and radio drama called Gutuka.

The SASA training for example has made me realize my role as a community peace and GBV activist. Illustrations given and small game cards used in the training brought out the real GBV issues without seeming to openly confront cultural and religious dogmas. I will go out there and try to exercise the same.

Additionally, the training was an eye opener to men, as it became clear that we have been making mistakes in our own lives.

We are not achieving much by targeting women and empowering them while leaving out men. Empowering men with information on GBV is very critical and needs to be taken to the next level to ensure GBV issues are adequately addressed in our society. As a community member, I have come to understand that change does not come from elsewhere. It is us to take charge of our lives. Change starts with the individual. It is our responsibility. It is my responsibility to ensure a peaceful and secure environment for women and girls wherever I live.

Last but not least, we need to target men much more if we are to achieve real change on issues of GBV especially amongst the Luo and Kuria communities.

Lydia Mlangala;

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A group of women gathered at Bomet during one of the community awareness forums on GBV organized by IRC trained .

he main issues of concern on gender based violence and conflict in Kuria include early marriages, female genital mutilation and Cattle rustling. Running battles between the two main Kuria clans, Banyabasi and Wairege, leads to loss of property and lives. Women and girls are the most affected. Through PIK, I have been enlightened and I am working towards widening access of women to justice, empowering the youth through women fund and conducting community dialogues in liaison with other members of the peace platform.

I was trained by PeaceNet Kenya on early warning and early response and has thus been of help in my community. For example, when we have indications of cattle raids, we are able to quickly set in and avert a backlash on the same.

I am also a crusader for intermarriages between the warring groups. Business partnership and integration has helped foster peaceful coexistence amongst the Kuria and other communities living and working in Kuria district. There is need to do thorough sensitization on gender based violence particularly on Female Genital Mutilation. Sporting activities present a good platform to address peace and GBV issues in the County.

Cultural beliefs are still a major hindrance to the war against gender based violence. It is the elders who tell their young men not to marry uncircumcised girls. We need to tailor-make our peace and GBV campaigns in a way that dissuades boys from cultural believes that makes them abhor uncircumcised girls.

I believe that if we resolved never to circumcise women and girls, FGM will be a thing of the past. I hope to reach out to as many people as possible with this information through my community outreach forums under PIK.

Lydia Mlangala Magabe comes from Kuria and works with the Youth Enterprise Development Fund as the Constituency Officer.

Lydia Mlangala Magabe is a member of Migori Peace Platform.

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“Women Hold up Half the Sky.” Chinese proverb

Emily Moraa;

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ender based violence and conflict are here with us and thus a need for continuous sensitization and awareness creation. Some women would rather suffer in silence. I have overheard women say “I fear that not only my husband, but my husband’s brothers will beat me if I dare report that they are violating me or my daughter. This is because they have a right over me as I got married to the community.”

Such is the secret ordeal that is ‘gender based violence’ in Migori.

The most reported cases of GBV in Migori County are rape and defilement, domestic violence, and female genital mutilation.

Besieged homestead by the swollen River Migori which wrecked havoc in April when the IRC team visited the area.

Circumcision of girls is rampant in Kuria and Somali communities who live in urban centre of Migori County; In Kuria for instance, some men do not marry girls who are uncircumcised hence the pressure on girls and women to be cut. Wife inheritance is still real in these parts of Kenya. The men who inherit women end up having multiple sexual partners putting women at risk.

Migori women are vulnerable due to lack of resource and skills to manage the limited resources available to them. To ensure that women attain some reasonable level of economic independence the Ministry of Gender is issuing small grants to women to empower them economically.

What needs to be done?

Involvement of the Somali community in sensitization forums be strengthened to ensure that this practice goes down.

From the SASA training, I have learnt that for me to be able to reach people, I can trigger a conversation on issues of GBV randomly. It does not have to be a formal meeting. The market exercise under SASA Model touched me. In the exercise, I learnt that I can just start a conversation by showing them a picture then start asking the people what they think of the picture. Other than the market place, awareness can be done at the ‘Chiefs barazas’, churches, women groups and government forums.

As a government official, I will take advantage of all meetings convened under my reach to spread peace and Gender equity messages.

PIK’s clarion call “promote peace, stop violence against women,” comes in handy in this regard.

Emily Moraa Moturi is a member of Migori County Peace Platform and Nyatike District and Deputy District Development Officer.

“There is no development strategy more beneficial to society as a whole-than the one which involves women as central players.”

Kofi Annan

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Sexual and Gender Based Violence rampant in Nakuru County Nakuru County has 11 constituencies which are largely multi-ethnic due to inhabitation of Kalenjins, Kikuyus and a sizeable fraction of all other Kenyan communities. In the lead up to the March 4th 2013 polls, ethnic animosity amongst tribes and political affiliations was a major risk to peace and stability of the region. Two months down the line, ethnic prejudices are still fomenting in the region. In Nakuru West for instance, differences over party affiliations and loyalties have emerged.

The losers have not accepted results and there is mistrust between the Kalenjin and the Kikuyus over botched pre-election deals.

Representation in County Governments and battle for control of the new governance structures are emerging as new sources of conflicts in the region. Land issues too remain outstanding in parts of Nakuru County including Banita, Rongai, Mau, Molo, Kuresoi. But of critical importance in post election period are issues pertaining to gender based violence.

Photos by Silvano Ateka;PeaceNet Kenya

Above:

GBV in flower farms

Nakuru County Peace Platform Chairlady, Fatma Yusuf facilitates discussions on peace and GBV issue affecting her County. Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) in flower farms, prisons and Mai mahiu truck stopover point were the main issues that came out of the April Peace Platform meeting.

The platform meeting was held in April at Menengai Social Hall in Nakuru. Over 30 participants drawn from over 11 constituencies of Nakuru were present.

Below: One of the flower farm we visited in Naivasha on our way to Nakuru County Peace Platform

Nakuru County covers what is largely known as Naivasha; the hub of floriculture in the country. Over 70 percent of the labor force in the flower farms comprise of women aged 1840. These women are poorly remunerated and end up being sexually exploited, violated and abused by their employers and bosses. The ultimate result is that the women end up having children out of wedlock and living on prostitution. Sex work, with all its attendant risks including HIV/Aids; has become accepted in Naivasha and Gilgil which has a military barrack due to economic deprivation of women.

In Gilgil for example, most of the young girls who engage in prostitution say they do so for money. “We are taken advantage of and exploited yet when it is realized that our clients are army men, the police officers do not press charges against their fellow uniformed officers,” says Ms Kinuthia (not her real name) from Gilgil who is a Commercial Sex Worker.

“Gilgil has 5 battalions. When the army men are returning from forest, they look for prostitutes

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and do not want to pay,” she adds.

Nakuru County Peace and GBV activists decry gender based violence

Effects of prisons in Naivasha Naivasha town is also home to Naivasha Maximum GK prison. The prison wardens are said to be among the perpetrators as well as victims of sexual exploitation and abuse in the town. Most of these wardens’ wives work at night in the flower farms where they fall prey to their employers while leaving their men to seek sexual gratification from elsewhere. “These prison officers and those who do not live with their wives resort to the streets where they can buy cheap sex. Sex in Naivasha is being exchanged for as low as Ksh. 20,” says Wanjiru Kathuri, Life Bloom Services International, Program Manager, Life and Bloom; a local organization working in Naivasha will be partnering with PIK to implement a short term GBV program aimed at reducing the scourge of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in the region.

Photos by John Ndeta; IRC

Ms Wanjiru Mwangi from Life Boom; a Naivasha based organization when she attended the Nakuru County Peace Platform meeting in April. On the right in an elder Mr. Kariuki a businessman in Bomet County who also attended the meeting Below and left is a group photo for the participants in the Nakuru County Peace Platform meeting held in April 2013

“Women migrate from as far as Nairobi, Narok and Kericho following the truck drivers. Some have pitched tent at Mai Mahiu due to the heavy presence of truck drivers who have become their cash-cow,” she adds.

Mai Mahiu and truck drivers Mai Mahiu (which means hot springs in Kikuyu) is a town within Nakuru County that emerged as stop point for the truck drivers. Truck driver spend days, weeks and even months on the road, driving from the Port of Mombasa to upcountry Kenya and overseas (to Uganda, South Sudan and as far as Zambia).

“When a girl is arrested and taken to court, the mother does not see the girl as her child but as a competitor.”- Catherine Mumbi Wanjohi.

The town has in the past few years turned into a favorite hub for most truck drivers leading to a growing number of commercial sex workers. “The increase in demand has led to a commensurate increase in commercial sex workers with some twilight girls migrating from rural areas to the town where there is most demand,” says Wanjiru Kathuri Ngige.

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Most of the commercial sex workers are grown up women who also have their young daughters whom they have recruited into their trade. When the grown up women go hunting, some of their clients go to their homes and take advantage of their young girls. Likewise, the young girls who are converts to the age old trade take advantage of their mother’s absence from home to sneak out and make money of their own. These women; young and old are once in a while swooped by the police.

“When a girl is arrested and taken to court, the mother does not see the girl as her child but as a competitor,” Catherine Mumbi Wanjohi, Life Bloom Executive Director. As a result, Naivasha Women Prison has over 80 percent young women who are also at risk from the prison warders.

PEACE INITIATIVE KENYA

FGM remains a thorny issue in Narok County, says Peace Platform “This is the 4th meeting for us and the last one was held on February 18 2013. The meetings are held to deliberate on peace and GBV issue affecting our County,” says John Nairaba, chairman of Narok County Platform. th

The Platform is comprised of 30 members; 18 women and 12 men and its membership is drawn from the vast county that is home to Masaai Mara National Park and borders other counties including Bomet, Kisii, Migori, Nakuru, Kiambiu and Kajiado. It also neighbors Tanzania on the south.

The central location of Narok County has its advantages and disadvantages. Conflicts including, cross border ,human-wildlife, ethnic and land disputes all which boil down to resource based conflicts are among the most visible and thorny issues within the county. A flip side of the same gives a variation of gender based violence including Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) , early marriages and deprivation of women and girl child rights’ on the basis of cultures and traditions.

Mr. Ole Maki makes a passionate appeal for the county peace platform to intervene in the Mau summit resettlement issue that is threatening to explode in Narok County

Nairaba further says that when they first met on November 9th 2012, they did not know each other and how to network and promote amicable resolution of conflicts within their locality. “But with time, we have enhanced partnerships for peace among community member, local government administrators and religious leaders,” adds Father Edward Tajau of Ololulunga Catholic Church.

Economic deprivation for women is also a major contributor to gender based violence amongst the Maasai community. “It is what has oppressed women to the extent that they are just like objects,” says Purity Sankei a member of the Peace Platform.

Other conflict issues that arose from the meeting were settlers and the local’s rivalry and locals versus government operatives over resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in what is perceived to be Maasai land.

Ethnic tensions and animosity towards the ‘settlers’ came out as another conflict issue within the county.

Group photo for the Narok County Peace Platform meeting attendants.

Clannism amongst the Maasai clans was also raised; Il-Purko and Il-Kekonyoke on one hand and Il-Siria and Il- Motianik on the other.

It was also reported that the Maasai community has Morans while the Kisii’s and Kuria’s have Chinkororo, Sungusungu militia groups respectively. These groups clash once in a while over resources and in the name of defending their communities.

Damaris Kimondo, District Officer (DO) for Narok District was also in attendance and officially opened the meeting.

Provincial administration officers at the a peace meeting in Maasai land

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The (DO) encouraged participants to be proactive in conflict resolution as Peace Initiative Kenya project indicates that the activities lined up are meant to promote peace and foster women rights.

Voices from the Grassroots: April 2013

PEACE INITIATIVE KENYA

Helpline 1195 launched to counter GBV in Kenya Fanis Lisiagali is the director and founder of Health Care Assistance Kenya (HAK); an organization that runs free gender based violence hotline 1195. Her journey to end Gender Based Violence began at the height of 2007/2008 post-election violence when it became apparent that women and children were not safe in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps because of rampant violation.

Fanis was part of HAK team that visited IDP camps in different regions in the country, listening to the plight of those affected and helping them.

Among the concerns raised by women in the camps was the need for another number that they could call for assistance other than the police hotline 911.

Fanis addressed this concern by giving out her two personal mobile numbers through which survivors reported acts of violence against women.

It was not until late 2011 that the two mobile lines were dropped and hotline 1195 introduced. This was after she approached the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) which was impressed by her efforts to help women and girls and issued her with the short-code 1195.

The hotline was officially launched on 21st of February 2013 with support from partner organizations like International Rescue Committee, as the official national number dedicated to reporting of gender based violence across the Country. Fanis’ bold action is saving lives of affected survivors and is a steppingstone to ending violence. She talks to us about hotline 1195‌

What drives you as a crusader fighting against violence?

Self-determination and passion for an equal society that upholds justice rights of women and girls is what drives me. I am hard working and very aggressive in what I do and sometimes, often mistaken by men to be harsh.

Basically, I hate violence and embrace peace.

Tell me about hotline 1195.

Hotline 1195 is a toll free number that helps survivors of gender based violence (GBV). A survivor or witness to GBV calls the number not just to report but also seek help from the ordeal of GBV. HAK with support from her partners works against sexual violence, emotional and psychological violence, social cultural violence, social economic violence, physical assault, child abuse and child trafficking.

What is the aim of hotline 1195?

The helpline educates and empowers women and communities at large on sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) and help survivors to feel free to open up on their experience. When one has been violated, sometime they do not know where to start from. By calling 1195, we give free psychosocial support and counseling to victims as well as advice on what to do to be helped.

Who does hotline 1195 targets?

Hotline1195 mainly targets women and girls because they are the most vulnerable not just in times of emergency but also in our daily lives due to culture and other societal stereotypes and myths.

Does Hotline 1195 also reach out to male survivors? If so, do they receive the same treatment and service?

Yes. Hotline1195 services are open to male survivors too, we do not discriminate. We encourage men to report any GBV case they experience including sexual, physical and verbal abuse.

What is a typical day like for hotline 1195?

Hotline 1195 is a 24 hour service provider, but

Left: Fanis Lisiagali, founder of hotline 1195 pointing to a video documentary on some of the

GBV cases they have attended to.

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mostly busy during the day. When a call comes through, a telecast reaches out to the survivor with a voice ready to serve. The telecast listens to the plight of the caller while giving brief tele-counseling session.

The survivor is then directed to a specific medical facility near her/his location for treatment and for further guiding and psychosocial support.

A survivor is also referred to a police station to report the violation. Regular follow-up phone calls and short messages are made by telecasts to survivors to ensure they seek treatment and to empower them to go and report the violation.

Notification and follow-up phone calls and short messages are also made to hospitals and police stations where we refer survivors, to ensure survivors receive proper and free treatment and services. Finally, we keep records of all treatment and services offered to survivors.

How is hotline 1195 changing the lives of women and girls in our society?

Hotline 1195 has conducted 20 empowerment trainings on GBV that targeted women and girls, some of which were done in 5 slum areas of Nairobi. 5 awareness campaigns about our work have also been conducted countrywide by our partner organizations. Women and girls are now aware of GBV issues and are coming out strongly to support hotline 1195. Since the launch of hotline 1195 in February 2013, we have helped over 3000 women and girls survivors, some of whom are from the slums. We continue to hold more trainings and awareness campaigns targeting women and girls.

How do you get a GBV survivor to open-up?

First, we have to receive a call from the survivor or a witness who has direct or indirect relations with the survivor. The call is mostly filled with a lot of emotions, so we have to be very patient and keep the survivors on until they stop crying.

In case the caller hangs-up, we call back. Then, we create trust by assuring the survivor of confidentiality and also through our voice (talking in a kind and loving manner).

Survivors are usually withdrawn, they have to feel and know they are safe before they open-up. We give all survivors unconditional positive regards, even if it is a child calling.

What kind of help do the survivors receive?

Health is our first priority; we make sure the survivor immediately receive treatment to prevent infections. We also ensure violation is reported at the police station, crime recorded on the Occurrence Book (OB) and a P3 form issued to the survivor. The survivor also receives legal support to ensure justice prevails and the perpetrator (s) is brought to account.

What happens when the survivor no longer feel safe at home, based on repeated attacks or threats?

Volume 1, Issue 1

Photos courtesy of hotline 1195

A male survivor being ferried in an ambulance after he was physically assaulted and sodomized by a gang of young men

Girl aged 9 rescued by HAK from muthurwa market in Nairobi. A survivor of FGM, physical assault and child labor was taken to kabete children home for recovery and is now happy in Narok living with a close relative and back in school.

We have shelters referred to as ‘safe homes’ for survivors who are no longer safe at home and are experiencing repeated defilement or rape.

A safe home is a temporary shelter that holds a capacity of 10 to 25 persons for duration of 3 to 6 months. Safe homes are used for recovering, thereafter, a survivor is safe to go back to a ‘safer’ home (that of a relative or a rented house) which we have analyzed and approved.

Examples of temporary safe homes include Kebete children Home and Wrap Home (for women and children). A survivor can also be referred to GOAL-Kenya (an organization that provides temporary safe homes for those in need), or we solicit funds from partner organizations that are used to rent a house and even start a small business at a safe location for the survivor.

Voices from the Grassroots: April 2013

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Do all the GBV survivors who call hotline 1195 for help complete the whole procedure required by the hotline?

No, not all the survivors complete the whole procedure especially if the perpetrator is family. However, hotline 1195 still makes follow-ups and instead of the police, the area chief is called to intervene and punish the perpetrator. Sometimes, we go to the extent of calling the perpetrator to warn him/her against further violation to the survivor.

Who supports hotline 1195?

We get support from partner organizations like; International Rescue Committee, USAID, Ministry of Gender Children and Social Development, Kenya Police, Nairobi Women Hospital, Government and Private Hospitals, CCK, Safaricom, Airtel, Yu, Orange, UNICEF, UN Women, UNFPA, Kenya Red Cross, GIZ, FIDA, COVAW, CREAW, Media Sta“I would like to expand hotline 1195 services tions among others.

to reach all women and girls in Africa, after What other challenges do you come across we have solved GBV issues here in Kenya”Is there a reason as to why you partnered while working for hotline 1195?

We sometime come across cases where death Fanis Lisiagali with these specific organizations?

Our partner organizations have stretched a is involved and there is no evidence, thus no justice. At-times, survivors are taken lightly when they go to hos- helping hand to support the work of hotline 1195 by assisting us with services like free call rates for survivors, ambulances to transpitals and police stations and are often sent back home without port critical survivors, free medical treatment and medication, psytreatment or service. This is because survivors are not supposed chosocial support, legal services just to mention a few. to pay for any service offered to them and this is not received well at the health and security facilities. Hotline1195 telecasts are also violated-verbally abused and threatened in course of their What is your parting shot on Gender based violence prevalence duty. and interventions in Kenya Reported cases on gender based violence are increasing day by day.

In March 2013 alone, HAK through hotline 1195 attended to How do you overcome these challenges?

It is usually hard when dealing with a case that has no evidence, 1652 cases. Gender officers in most districts across Kenya are rebut we depend on the police to represent those affected in court. porting on average 35 incidents a month. Therefore, I would like the government to declare sexual and gender based violence a naWhen the survivor does not receive treatment or service, we intervene by personally talking to those in charge both at the hospi- tional disaster. All Kenyans should come together, men to take lead, to end this monstrous disaster called GBV. I say a big NO to tal and police station and ensure they assist the survivor. Telecasts have to be calm and composed for the sake of the survivors gender based violence!

Photos by Valine Moraa; IRC when they are violated; in extreme cases, we seek legal help.

HAK director and founder of hotline 1195, Fanis Lisiagali (in red) above leads colleagues in chanting ‘Say no to Gender based Violence’. Below is Fanis promoting the free GBV Hotline number 1195.

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Above are HAK staff at work and below is the Ministry of Gender Children and Social Development PS– Prof.

Oduol when she officially launched 1195

The 1195 cards.

PEACE INITIATIVE KENYA

Cattle rustling; face of cross border conflict in the South Rift Bomet County borders Narok County and Kisii, Nyamira and TransMara on the south. These are conflict prone areas with cattle rustling; in more recent times, cattle theft accounting for the rampant conflicts and insecurity along the borders.

Chief Langat who is also the chairman of the Bomet County Peace Platform says that the Sotik Borabu Border in areas of Chebilat, Tembwa and Ndanaai are the most dangerous places when it comes to cattle rustling. TransMara- Bomet Border too has issues of cattle theft and conflicts Impoverished Youth Impoverished youth end up resorting to cattle theft to meet their needs. When this happens, women and girls are vulnerable to violence including sexual and gender based violence due to raids.

Some youth have resorted to logging; they cut down other people’s trees to burn charcoal and thus causing conflicts amongst Kenyans (rampant along Mara River; Lower Soll and Araitich).

Simon Korir from a local CBO, Sotik-Borabu Women Peace Drive, says the main conflicts have been witnessed on the Bomet-Nyamira and Kisii- TransMara county border. Areas of Chebilat, Tembwa, Ndanai, Gelegele and Trasmara are affected by cattle rustling.

The head of the Peace and Conflict Monitoring unit in his CBO says there is a particular tribe of people living in these areas called “thieves.”

When animals are stolen from one side, they are handed over to their friends on the other side of the border.

Volume 1, Issue 1

Provincial Administrators in Bomet County follow discussion at the recently held Peace Platform meeting where 2 organization to spearhed peace and GBV issues in the county (Photo by John Ndeta)

The youth from the Kisii, Maasai and Kalenjin have formed a cartel that trades in goods and services from one to the other. Since these neighboring communities are culturally pastoralist, cattle become the easy target in their cartel.

Sotik-Borabu Women Peace Drive, Sally Kirui says when animals are stolen from one side of the border and herded into neighboring county, the aggrieved communities perceive their neighboring community to be the thieves, leading to conflict break outs.

The aggrieved community traces their animal’s footsteps to their neighbors and then plans a retaliatory attack where they waylay their neighbors’ animals’ thus sparking violence.

“Our organization in collaboration with other stakeholder in this region has been actively involved in bringing the communities living along the border to live together in peace. We have continued to sensitive them on peaceful coexistence, diversification of economic activities and dropping of retrogressive culture including cattle raiding,” says sally.

She further says that there is

need to empower youth so that they are economically independence and do not engage in theft that leads to conflicts.

“The idle youths not only steal but are used in retaliatory attacks and looting at the height of the conflict as they have nothing to lose. ”- Sally Kirui

The Maasai still value cattle raiding as a cultural practice and once in a year; precisely in December, the Morans attempt to raid the neighboring Kalenjin to take away cattle so us to be initiated into adulthood.

Recent case of cattle theft that led to bloodbath In February 2013, cows were stolen frequently and at the close of the month; over 3 raids had been accomplished. One of the people who had been raided was speared with an arrow and was admitted at Kisii District Hospital battling for his life.

On the same day when we were in Bomet, Sotik-Borabu Women Peace Drive organized a peace meeting where 3 District Commissioner of Sotik-Borabu, Kisii and TransMara held deliberation to sustain cross border peace in areas of Lemismis where recent spate of cattle thefts had been reported.

Voices from the Grassroots: April 2013

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IRC fosters peaceful coexistence amongst Migori residents Located in South Nyanza; Migori County boasts of cultural diversity with the Luo, Kuria, Maragoli and Somali living in the same neighborhood albeit; not peacefully.

To avert a looming political contest in the 2013 polls, the two main communities; Luo and Kuria entered into a power-sharing pact where the Luos’ were to leave the post of Deputy Governor and Senator to the Kurians in exchange of voting for Coalition on Reforms and Democracy (CORD) presidential aspirant Raila Odinga.

This arrangement ensured that the protagonists in Migori County remained friendly through the 2013 elections. But after the results, votes from Kuria side are said to have been shared equally between CORD and Jubilee alliance something that irked the Luo community.

After the election, youth blocked the roads to and from Kuria side and the Kuria were not able to bring their produce to the market like tomatoes, sweet potatoes and maize among others. The standoff seems to have cooled off but many locals are still hurting over the loss of their preferred presidential candidate.

In the backdrop, people are talking about conflict issues between the Kuria and the Luo. The Kuria community is seen to have voted for Jubilee against the agreement where their son Dr. Wilfred Machage was voted as Migori County Senator by Kurias and Luos alike.

At meeting in Migori town mid April 2013, over 80 community leaders drawn from across the county initiated discussions on how best to resolve the tensions arising from the election results. “Prior to elections, we organized peace processions that raised awareness on the need to maintain peace before, during and after the elections. In areas where Peace

COVAWs Esther Wambui at the SASA training in Migori mid April

Initiative Kenya intervention has reached, people have started talking about issues that concern them and seeking amicable solutions as opposed to conflicting over the same,” says the Migori County Peace Platform chairman Paul Omole.

Mr. Junet Mohamed, Member of Parliament (MP) for Suna East Constituency is of Somali origin. His opponent was a Luo native of Migori yet the Somali won.

Teacher Dorothy says the people were saying that the Somalis do not interact with people. “They do not marry our girls. We cannot vote for them,” they told her off when she tried to preach against ethnicity.

“But I did not lose heart. I made the local see the sense in realizing that without mixing with others, there will be no new things (sic) coming,” she says. Through her efforts and that of others, many Luos were able to vote for a non Luo and thus a Somali was elected.

“Through the County Peace

Participants at the COVAW SASA training in Migori County held mid April 2013.

Every participant voluntarily took part in activities fostering women rights

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Voices from the Grassroots: April 2013

Platforms, Peace Initiative Kenya will bring together leaders through community based organizations to amicably resolve these conflicts,” says the Migori County Peace Platform chairman Mr. Omole.

Lydia Mlangala, a member of Migori Peace Platform said they will start a peace and sensitization process and forums among residents to ensure peace and development.

“From Nyatike to Rongo, Kuria to Migori town, we have planned community activities including awareness creation amongst community members on issues of peace and conflict management,” says Mr. Don Siati, a member of the Peace Platform from Nyatike.

Mr Siati further says that every district has a team leader who will spearhead community discussion forums on conflict and gender based violence issues with a view of getting a lasting solution. To help in the discussion are strategies including conflict mapping, mediation and dialogue forums and focus on power balance between men and women.

Community conversation forums will target market attendees, jua kali, church outreach, sand harvesters and other business and recreation centers. The main issues under discussion in the community peace forums will cut across political affiliations, business rivalry, cattle rustling and land conflicts in Nyatike, Rongo, Kuria, Migori town.

Cattle rustling have over the years remained a thorny issue within and without Kuria district. Battle of supremacy between the Wairege and Banyabasi clans has orchestrated raids that lead to loss of property and life.

“We hope that through the County Peace Platform, a lasting solution will be found not just on cattle rustling in Kuria but on all conflict issues in the entire Migori County,” says Jebiwot Sumbeiywo who is PIK Chief of Party.

PEACE INITIATIVE KENYA

Female Genital Mutilation persist in Migori County despite Government ban

In spite of the government passing law prohibiting female genital mutilation (FGM), the vice still persists in Migori County among the Kuria, Somali and Gusii communities.

This is because the three communities still value FGM as a cultural rite of passage for adolescent girls and those who do not undergo the rite have to battle with societal rejection throughout their lives.

“Girls who are not cut do not get men to marry them and are treated as outcasts,” says Emily Moturi, Nyatike Deputy District Development Officer.

“In Kuria precisely, men do not marry women who are uncircumcised hence the pressure on girls and women to be cut,” she adds.

Myths and Risks FGM is a form of GBV that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia under the guise of culture. Most Kenyan communities that practice FGM believe that it is a way of taming women so that they do not become promiscuous in marriage. Of course nothing could be further from the truth than such myths.

Lydia Mlangala, who is a community activism and anti FGM crusader says that the practice of FGM in Migori county is a major issue contributing to early marriages and high number of school drop out for girls. Speaking during a SASA training held recently in the county, Lydia admitted that she managed to further her studies after escaping the circumcisers knife.

“Female genital mutilation also leads to health complications like fistula when young girls get married,” she says, “and it is for this reason that we plan to conduct awareness creation against FGM to end this inhumane violation against the girl child.”

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Above: Participants at the SASA training conducted in Migori County.

Below is Mr. John Ochieng from Rongo and Lydia Mlangala from Kuria when thy took part in the training. The traiing was meant to equip Community GBV activists with skills on breaking the silence on GBV issues and suataing the momemntum. Migori county is rife with FGM and deprivation of women rights on the basis of culture.

Child defilement Dorothy Odhiambo, a teacher at Ngege Primary School in Migori County and member of peace platform, says that any member of a peace platform has to be outgoing and reachable. “Reachable because, if you reach the people at the grassroots you get to understand what is happening and you are able to intervene,” she says.

“From the pupils I teach, I get a lot of information on what happens at home. Women feel so much oppressed by men. There is need for empowering women while enlightening the men.”

Ms. Dorothy adds that in 2012, an 11year old physically disabled girl was defiled at a village called Osingo in Migori County. That case was reported at the Police station in Migori. Her investigation revealed that the disabled girl had been abused by a step-brother. “He took me to a banana plantation and forced himself on me,” the girl reported to teacher Dorothy.

Upon realizing that the boy would be arrested for rape and defilement, Voices from the Grassroots: April 2013

the family colluded to have the boy disappear and to date, the boy has not returned to the village.

The girl was taken to hospital for treatment and she is continuing with her studies.

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Meet voices for peace from the North Rift The last week to elections saw the IRC’s Sophia Jones-Mwangi and John Harrington Ndeta travel to a community in Kenya's Rift Valley that five years ago was consumed by political and ethnic violence. Once known as Burnt Forest — a name that dates to colonial times, when a fire decimated the region's cedar trees — the town is now a place of peace, reconciliation and new growth. It even has a new name, Tarakwa, that evokes the word for "cedar" in the languages of two long-rival ethnic groups who once again live side-by-side as neighbors.

As Kenyans went to the polls to elect a new president, voters cast ballots with hope and trepidation. Almost 1,500 people died during widespread violence that erupted following the last, disputed election in 2007, the result of long-simmering ethnic tensions as well as politics.

“The violence of 2007 and 2008 was the worst,” says 50-year-old Simon Muchiri, a farmer born and raised in Tarakwa, a small town in the Rift Valley where rival ethnic groups, the Kikuyus and Kalenjins, clashed over election results. “Violence stops our development and lives are lost,” says Simon, who now works as a peace activist. “I want to see people vote wisely and peacefully.”

Esther Kangongo well remembers how things were just a few years ago. “I had a house on seven acres of land,” she recalls.

“After the 2007 elections and the violence started, people came and killed my four cows and set alight three hundred bags of maize that we had in the store.” Her entire property was razed down.

But now Esther is hopeful about the future and grateful for the work done

by USAID funded Peace Initiative Kenya (PIK). “Its impact has been very good,” she says. “Many organizations hold their peace meetings in the hotels in Eldoret, 50 kilometers away, but PIK holds meetings in the villages under the trees, sharing with people and asking them what they want and how they feel about peace. In some of the community meeting where I have facilitated, the women tell us they do not want a repeat of 2007. People are saying enough is enough,”

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Right: Esther Kangongo at her former residence which was set ablaze due to 2007/2008 post poll violence

she says.

PIK has also trained peace actors in every county in the North Rift who watch for early signs of violence, and helps reconstruct damaged schools, organize sports activities for young people, and provides aid and support for victims of violence.

“The two communities have gained a high level of integration through the community initiatives,” says the IRC’s Jebiwot Sumbeiywo. “So anything that they plan and implement has representation and participation of both communities.”

Kenya’s situation is in some ways epitomized by the journey of 39-yearold Wilson Mulua, who despite a congenital disability that confines him to a wheel chair, has become a community leader. But in 2007, disappointed by the election and frustrated by his own situation, he told his fellow Kalenjin villagers, “I wish I had legs like you and I would torch the whole of those houses.” The Kalenjins heard him and promptly set fire to houses belonging to Kikuyus.

After the violence died down, Mulua reflected on his actions.

“I realized that during Voices from the Grassroots: April 2013

such times I am very vulnerable,” he recalls.

“I do peace work now so that I and others like me can be safe and go about our daily lives. The communities have accepted me the way I am. They don’t see my disability but my unique abilities in bringing people together,” he says.

Today, Mulua travels throughout the entire area spreading the message of peace with his colleague PeaceNet Kenya’s Uasin Gishu county representative Francis Biu. Mulua a Kalenjin and Biu, a Kikuyu, make an unlikely duo, yet are well known throughout the area and are called upon regularly by local leaders and ordinary people to settle disputes. “We tell people not to take the law into their own hands as there are legal ways of addressing conflicts.”

Below: PeaceNet Kenya’s peace activists Francis Biu and Wilson Mulua. The duo ensure that disputes among members of their community are solved in a peaceful manner.

PEACE INITIATIVE KENYA

Bomet County: GBV issues in the County It is Thursday April 18th and we are meeting at Itembe Secondary School located 2 Kilometers away from Bomet town along Nairobi-Kisii Highway. Present are provincial administrators, teachers, community health workers, community opinion leader and community representatives working for peace and GBV in the county. This is the third round of Bomet County Peace Platform meetings convened by PeaceNet Kenya; an implementing partner under IRC’s Peace Initiative Kenya project. Participants are so elated for the opportunity not just to discuss the issues affecting them but also come up with ways and means of dealing with violence in their communities.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) among other retrogressive cultures that oppress women and girl child formed the crust of the discussions. The ‘cut’ as is popularly referred to amongst the communities that exercise FGM in Kenya was blamed for early pregnancies and marriages amongst girls of school going age.

“Our girls drop out of school to get married once they have been cut,” says Joyna Ronoh, area chief in Kabungut location Bomet County . Economic deprivation of women and rampant poverty was blamed for the perpetuation of cultural practices that oppress women.

Joyna who attended the Emergency Response Preparedness training organized by IRC in mid January 2013 says every time she addresses the bi-monthly chief’s baraza, she tells them about issues of GBV, sexual violence, wife battering rape and defilement. She encourages all members of the community to attend the chief baraza’s that happens twice in a month.

“I attend barazas outside my scope of jurisdiction to address GBV issues. Other chiefs invite me to their jurisdiction to talk about GBV issues. Before the GBV awareness campaign I embarked on, cases of GBV were not being reported compared to today. In Chepalungu alone, over 36 GBV cases were reported in March 2013,” adds Joyna.

Top: Olga Mutoro (PeaceNet) AND Michal document Bomet Country Platform meeting Centre: Partcitipants in the Bomet County Platform meeting follow deliberationsMs Chebet expresses disgust at how women are treated in the Kalenjin culture

“FGM is the main GBV issue in Chepalungu and parts of Sotik within Bomet County,” says Agnes Ngeno, the County Director for Gender and Social Development and a member of the Bomet County Peace Platform.

In the past, FGM used to be a big ceremony amongst the Kipsigis and all the Kalenjin communities. But with anti FGM campaigns, it is now being done in secrecy. “Kalenjin men believe strongly that a woman should be cut for her to be married,” says Agnes, “Those who are married and even have kids still have to get cut for them to belong. This leads to birth complications like fistula amongst young women.”

FGM leads to numerous school dropouts, early marriages, and health complications and thus more sensitization campaigns and advocacy against FGM must be stepped up in this region; appeals the County Gender officer.

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Voices from the Grassroots: April 2013

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Married yet forcibly circumcised Two newly married women were forced into circumcision at Ndanai village in Bomet County. Community members reported the matter to the area chief who was slow in acting and thus the perpetrators carried out the inhuman act. When the matter was brought to Joyna, it was reported to the police station, taken to law court and awaits the verdict.

But the victims yielded to pressure from the community and turned against chief Joyna. “We consented to the cut to please our men,” said one of the victims when the case was brought for mention mid March. As it turns out the case has lost its weight due to the witness indication and interference with the evidence. “The matter is dragging in court and we hope that the law shall be upheld and justice done,” says Joyna.

“My sprit is not dampened. I received some IEC Materials on peace and GBV from Peace Initiative Kenya and that has kept my campaign alive,” explains Joyna, “ I have continued to spread the anti GBV messages: prior to March 4th elections, I organized peace and GBV procession in Bomet town. I distributed the lessos and kikois to elderly women who not only wore them during the procession but made stopovers and asked people on the way to read the message that was inscribed: ‘Promote Peace Protect women.”

Case of defilement In January 2013, a minor from Balek within chief Joyna’s jurisdiction was defiled by an uncle aged 40. The young girl aged seven years old was abused and was found half-dead unable to walk. The family of the girl interrogated her and she pointed an accusing finger to her uncle. “When I got to the family, the perpetrator had already been called to the homestead and was being questioned. He refused to admit any wrong doing, but was willing to be taken to the police station to write a statement,” says Joyna.

She further says, “I educated the mother of the child on how to preserve the evident. We presented the girl and her accused uncle to Longisa Hospital for examination and when the results came out, the man who had refused all wrong doing was culpable. The results showed that indeed he had defiled the minor. He was detained and sentenced to life imprisonment.”

Bodaboda menace on girls Modern age has come with further effects on girls. Girls who avoid cultural practices by joining school are now being abused and preyed on by young men who run the bodaboda business in Bomet and Narok County. When school are opening or closing, report of girls disappearing only to be found having been defilement by the bodaboda operators have become rampant.

Joynah Rono at the Bomet County Peace Platform

ber of PeaceNetKenya and Chamber of Commerce who developed the Integrated Urban Strategic Development Plan in Bomet.

“Our members operate in Bomet Silbwet, Kapsimwotwa, Kapkwen and Kyogong. We have clear guidelines of how our members are to conduct themselves and those who violate our rules are deregistered. Violence against women is not acceptable and we disassociate ourselves with people who prey on young girls in cause of their work,” says Kiprotich.

He says that there are reported incidents of motorbike riders defiling school girls. The girls have in the past been said to have disappeared and then appears later to claim that they had been raped by the motorcyclists.

“My association is working with the police to ensure that those who perpetrate violence against women and girls are brought to book,” explains Kiprotich, “We have outreach campaigns where we sensitize our members and the general public to report such incidents to the membership who in turn pass on the information to the police.”

He adds that so far 3 members from the association have been blacklisted and that the entire transport sector is being linked to violence against women and girls.

As witnessed in Bomet town, motorcyclists are eager and are willing to put on branded reflectors with Peace and GBV Messages. “I like riding my motorbike with this flag of Kenya that bear the message “Promote Peace, Protect Women,” attests Michael Rono; a motorcyclist in Bomet who is alos a member of the Bomet County Peace Platform.

Right: Kipngetich who chairs the Bomet Bodaboda Association.

Makeshis prresentatio at the April County meeting

Bomet County Bodaboda chairman Kiprotich Ngetich, superintends over 300 members. The 22 years old is also a memPage 17

Voices from the Grassroots: April 2013

PEACE INITIATIVE KENYA

Peace Initiative Kenya Project activities in perspective Kenya’s first ever elections under the new constitution in early March was generally peaceful. Against all odds, there was no repeat of the chaos experienced in the aftermaths of the 2007/8 elections despite having structural and logistical issues that resulted into long voting queues, delay in release of results and disputes over results that took another 2 weeks to resolved at the supreme Court.

Tension was high in various parts of the country reaching agitation point. But Kenyans demonstrated resilience and great determination to maintain peace during the electoral period. Working with local and international organizations, Kenyans were engaged in projects that fostered peace and amicable resolution of conflicts and key among them was International Rescue Committee (IRC) through Peace Initiative Kenya (PIK) project.

Six months prior to elections, IRC through implementing partners engaged in awareness campaigns and training Kenyans on peace and GBV. “Peace trainings and awareness campaigns held in 18 counties across 4 regions in Kenya (Nairobi, Nyanza, Rift Valley and Coast) were in form of Community forums, County Peace Platforms and Regional Peace summits,” explains Jebiwot Sumbeiywo, Chief of Party PIK/IRC. The Community forums and Peace platforms were designed to be avenues that discussed and responded to issues related to conflict and violence.

“KERT team was in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret and comprised of at least 12 members who were on standby during the election period to respond to any emergency that could have arisen.”- Jebiwot Sumbeiywo

Above: Mary Daniel explaining to community participants what is a contingency plan and how to develop it. This was a GBV training, held immediately after the election by PIK under FIDA-Kenya. Mary was one of the participants of a high level Emergency Response Preparedness training by IRC in January.

Top Right: Maasai man in Kajiado follows keenly the community forum proceedings.

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The forum and platforms were also designed to promote the role of women in Kenya today by encouraging them to participate in conflict mitigation, peace building, and GBV prevention. The Regional peace Summits were a culmination of several meetings held at the community and county levels.

“Before elections, an average of 10 community forums and 3 regional Peace summits were held per County,” says Phoebe Omondi.

Ms Omondi who is the Gender and Conflict specialist in the PIK Project says the platforms were held in all of the 18 counties.

“Multi-sectoral regional peace summits were also held in which communities and leaders at various levels reflected on their commitment and preparedness for a peaceful outcome in the post-election period,” says Ms. Omondi who adds that, “In January 2013, a high level Emergency Response Preparedness training on gender based violence was held where 28 participants drawn from PIK partner organizations and the grassroots GBV actors were trained.”

She further says, “Focus was to impart skills and knowledge on managing GBV cases in an emergency with elections in mind. The participants cascaded the training to the community prior to the election ensuring a fully fledged preparedness plan on management of GBV

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IRC emergency response during the electoral period before, during and after 2013 elections in all the 4 regions where PIK is implemented.”

IRC Kenya Country Director; Jerotich Seii Houlding(in yellow t-shirt) joins Coast Province Reproductive Health team for a photo when she visited the region to assess emergency preparedness during the elections early March.

Centre: A police officer leads a procession at Nakuru in December 2012. The event was part of the COVAW(PIK implementing partner) activities under the my vote my choice for Peace campaign

In the week of election, the IRC Kenya Program put in place a team dubbed Kenya Emergency Response Team (KERT) which included all staff members of the PIK project, doctors, surgeons, nurses and psychosocial counselors from other IRC departments.

“KERT team was in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret and comprised of at least 12 members who were on standby during the election period to respond to any emergency that could have arisen. The team stayed in the field between 2nd and 11th March 2013, working alongside volunteers from the specific regions,” said Jebiwot.

PIK also works with 2 Media partners who amplify the PIK messaging on peace and GBV though the print and electronic media. Before the elections, over 30 articles specific to PIK activities were published both online and on local media. A 6 part drama series program called Gutuka (awaken) which highlighted the plight of women in conflict situation was also aired in 6 local radio stations, to enlighten the public on the need to create a safe space for women before during and after the elections.

Jane Godia (near left) follows harrowing narrations from women at a media encounter with grassroots women meeting held in Kisumu early January.

The meeting brought out issues of intimidation of women aspirants and voters during the electoral period and the media was sensitized on the need to heighlit such issues even as elections drew nigh.

Africa Women and Child feature services (AWC); PIK media Partner) also conducted media activities in all the 4 project sites. The activities that brought together at least 30 participants per activity were media trainings, media and grassroots women encounter and media and stakeholder roundtable meetings. Out of this, grassroots women working for peace and GBV were covered in the local and main stream media.

Well Told Stories (WTS); also PIK media partner) in charge of the Gutuka radio drama series production, also reached out to the youth through a comic book referred to as Shujaaz Magazine with messages on peace and GBV.

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Voices from the Grassroots: April 2013

PEACE INITIATIVE KENYA

Cont from Page 8: Interrogation of GBV and peace issues in Narok County Violence against women and girls is still a major issue amongst the Maasai community. Incidents of FGM leading to early marriages which in turn lead to divorces and separation, defilements, rape, HIV/Aids and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, deprivation of inheritance rights, wife battering, Child labor and discrimination against the girl child are rampant among the Maasai.

It was evident from the meeting that Maasai women are willing to let go the ‘cut’ but are held in bondage by this age old cultural practice. Due to schooling, religion and GBV campaigns; awareness has been created amongst the girls and they are now resisting circumcision. “For one to be cut, it is now dependent on the girl and often happens in secrecy. Formerly there were official ceremonies where the girls were cut but now it is up to the parent and the girl,” says Fred Kamakei Sangiriaki a leading member of the Platform Mathew Sinderia affirms his colleague’s views on FGM. “It is we elders who insist on having our girls circumcised in the name of preserving our culture. Even in today’s age when FGM is illegal, it is happening though

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Maasai women who attended 2013 International Women Day celebrations at Laikipia follow proceeding.

under cover,” says the Maasai Elder who is a former army man.

He further agrees that few parents who have gone to school have abandoned FGM and their children are not circumcised.

“The challenge is that those who are not circumcised normally are not able to stay in marriage. Most often than not, their fathers’ inlaw are the ones who incite and pressurize their sons not to marry or live with a girl who is uncircumcised, “reveals Mr. Sinderia who further says, “the former things are not necessary in modern age. We are now informed and need not to live in the past.”

The need to carry out an anti FGM campaign that targets Maasai elders who are the

Voices from the Grassroots: April 2013

custodians of culture to inform them on the dangers of FGM including complications in at birth is evident.

The Narok County Peace Platform selected Neighbor Peace Initiative (NPI), Narok North (Town) Peace and Naikokisho Saving and Internal Loaning Communities (SILC) Group to spearhead the implementation of Peace and GBV campaigns under the USAID funded Peace Initiative Kenya project in the county.

Local Maasai Women Group perform a tradition dance at this years international Women's day that was held at Laikipia IRC provided some of the IEC materials used for the day

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Peace Initiative Kenya P.O. Box 62727-00200 Nairobi.

Telephone: 254-726082140 254-73370140 Fax: 254-20-271-7763 E-mail: irckenya@rescue.org

PROMOTE PEACE WHERE PIK WORKS

WHERE PIK WORKS

PROTECT WOMEN 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.