Peace Initiative Kenya Magazine Volume 1, Issue 2

P EACE I NITIATIVE K ENYA Leveraging grassroots resources Volume 1, Issue 2

July 2013

Word from the Editor,

Inside this issue:

Dear Reader, Leveraging grassroots resources is a compilation of select articles from the areas where Peace Initiative Kenya Project is under implementation. This PIK Magazine Issue 2, the second of its kind, documents peace building and conflict mitigation interventions with a special focus on gender based violence across the country.

On page 3, read about how the International Rescue Committee is seeking engagements with the Senators in dealing with GBV issues at the county and national level. Page 5 brings to the fore physical assault as a form of GBV where a 10 year old boy is brutally assaulted by her own mother leaving him with server burns and injuries. Through hotline 1195, the child was rescued and underwent corrective surgery at Coast General Hospital.

IRC explores challenges and opportunities for Kenyan Women Senators

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Hotline 1195 rescues assaulted 10 year-old boy

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Gutuka drama dispels retrogressive practices in Maasai land

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“Let us go back to our morals,” Nandi County Peace platform appeals

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PIK Scorecard report at 9 months

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A tribute to Phoebe Omondi: Gender and Peace champion

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Page 6 present the impact of PIK radio drama interventions. Susan Naseren is awarded a goat for using Gutuka Radio drama to dispel retrogressive cultures. On page 9, read about exchange visit among PIK partners and on page 10 is a scorecard report on PIK project.

PIK lost its Gender specialist, Phoebe Omondi, to the cruel hand of death on the last day of May 2013.

Read this in page 12.

Enjoy your reading as we seek to promote a sustainable Peace and end Gender Based Violence.

Cover Photo

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 aftermath. 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, Rural Women’s Peace Link (RWPL), Sauti Ya Wanawake – Pwani, Health Care Assistance Kenya (HAK) through hotline 1195, African Woman and Child Feature Service (AWC) and Well Told Story (WTS). 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.

Editor : John Harrington Ndeta

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Grassroots Peace and GBV training held at Kisii County in April 2013. Photo by Paul odumbe PeaceNet-Kenya/PIK

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

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

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Design and Layout: Valine Moraa

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IRC explores challenges and opportunities for Kenyan Women Senators The Constitution of Kenya (2010) gave birth to 2 chambers of the Parliament; the National Assembly and the Senate. The senate as constituted has a total of 18 nominated women senators.

IRC sought to engage them in June 2013 and managed to get 12 Senators commit to take a lead role on gender issues. Peace Initiative Kenya Chief of Party, Jebiwot Sumbeiywo filed this report: International Rescue Committee (IRC) in partnership with USAID Kenya late June 2013 held a brainstorming session with a section of Kenyan women senators under Peace Initiative Kenya project (PIK). The meeting provided an opportunity for the senators and gender activists to explore challenges and opportunities in advancing women’s development agenda in Kenya.

“The Constitution of Kenya (2010) provides that the senate shall be made up of forty seven members, sixteen nominated women appointed through their parties by proportion, two representatives of the youth and two representatives of persons with disabilities,” said former legislator Prof.

Above: IRC Kenya Country Director Jerotich Seii Houlding with USAID Mission Director Karen Freeman after meeting with women senators in Nairobi

Left: PIK /IRC Chief of Party Jebiwot Sumbeiywo speaks to participants at the women senators meeting

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Margaret Kamar who added that this requirement has thus far been fulfilled. But even as the non elected senate members are taking up their roles, some clear issues are emerging that needs to be addressed to ensure the success of the devolution agenda and fulfilling the objectives of the constitution.

An immediate challenge facing women senators is the fact that they can only vote for motions in the senate through a letter of delegation (signed off through an elected senator from their county). “And even when we bring a motion to the senate house, we cannot vote on it. This means that we have to depend on our elected male counterparts to present matters to the house which limits us in our effectiveness and visibility in the legislative role,” lamented Senator Agnes Zane. According to the nominated senators, there is need for amending the standing orders to allow them to vote on legislative matters.

Another broader challenge that stoodout is the fact that women in parliament, whether the Women County Representatives or in the senate, are more often than not unclear of how to best use their office to push for a women’s agenda. They therefore need a strong backing from networks, associations and engagement within parliament and through civil society to articulate issues and to create the right momentum to influence decisions in parliament. Concerns have also been raised on how the public media provides more coverage for men in the parliament and less for women.

Despite this, the discussions held in the meeting challenged the women senators to use the opportunities they have.

From the former members of parliament, it was clear that the implementation of the constitution provides greater opportunities for women to be engaged at the national and county level in ways that are unprecedented. “Women senators should be engaged at the county level to ensure that the county assembly committees have the constitutional women’s representation. They should also identify a clear plan of implementation of the Supreme Court’s advisory on the progressive implementation of two thirds gender rule,” said Senator Zipporah Kittony.

It was also raised that Women Senators need to change the way they identify themselves by gaining confidence in addressing themselves as senators, whether elected or nominated, and not view their role as secondary to that of the male senators. “The fact that women senators sit in the various senate committees even taking up the chair and deputy of positions in the Delegated Legislation Committee of the senate provides immense leverage in decision making within the senate,” affirmed Senator Beatrice Elachi.

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Participants resolved to jointly as women senators, civil

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society and donors to have the women senators and women representatives at county meet regularly and sustain the momentum created by this first meeting and provide a capacity building opportunity every time they meet on a given subject.

“I wish to appeal to the women to be aware of tactics that are often used to exclude women in decision making which include: withholding vital information, making women look ridiculous, focusing of women’s sexuality and gender roles, making women feel invisible and burdening women with a sense of shame and guilt,” cautioned Prof. Jacqueline Oduol.

The meeting which was attended by twelve nominated women senators was graced by USAID Kenya mission director Karen Freeman, a number of senior USAID Kenya staff, IRC country Director and several other stakeholders including the immediate former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Services Prof Jacqueline Oduor (who also moderated the session) and the immediate former minister for Higher education Prof. Margaret Kamar. Present also were Peace Initiative Kenya partners; African Women and Child feature service, FIDA-Kenya and Coalition on Violence against Women (COVAW).

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1. Senator Zipporah Kittony speaks at the Senator Women meeting 2. Prof. Margaret Kamar speaks at the meeting 3. Participants at the meeting listening to ongoing discussions 4. Senator Linet Kemunto representing persons with disabilities speaks at the meeting 5. Shiro Mogeni of FIDA Kenya speaks at the meeting 6. Christine Pageon (left) USAID staff speaks to Senator Daisy Kanainza representing the youth and Senator Halima Abdiila (right)

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Hotline 1195 rescues an assaulted 10-year-old boy KISIMANI – MOBASA COUNTRY On December 18th 2012, 10 year old Ali Said was severely burned by his own mother for allegedly stealing Ksh. 500 to buy food. The mother is said to have tied the boy’s hands, wrapped them in cotton wool and poured paraffin before setting the boy’s hands ablaze.

After some time, she tried to pour water on the boy’s burning hands in an attempt to salvage what had remained but the damage had already been done. The mother was arrested and arraigned in court for assault and is currently serving a jail term at a Mombasa correctional facility.

In March 2013, community members reported the matter to Sauti ya Wanawake-Pwani (simply known as Sauti) after it became evident that the boy had been bedridden. Marcelina MuSchool girls make a presentation on GBV during the launch of the Hotline 1195 in February 2013 kalla of Sauti reported that the boy could not even hold anything with his hands. Sauti tried to assist the “Sauti tried assisting the boy to get treatment but boy get treatment at local hospitals but the bills were prohibithe bills were very expensive,” Marcelina Mukalla. tive. One of the local hospitals quoted Ksh. 750,000 to enable the boy undergo a corrective surgery for both hands. Such an regarding the boy’s reconstructive surgeries and medical amount was way out of reach not just for the boy but also for expenses. Dr. Mwero later authorized that the boy’s hospithe community well-wishers who wished to save Ali. tal bill be waived on humanitarian grounds and that the It then dawned on Sauti that there is a national genboy be booked for threatre soonest. der violence hotline (1195) to which one could report an incident and seek help. Without hesitant, Sauti brought the matter Doctors at the Coast General Hospital complained to the attention of one of the International Rescue Commitof many patients scheduled for surgery at the hospital hence tee’s Peace Initiative Kenya project partners - HealthCare Assisa tremendous delay for the boy’s date at theater. The earlitance Kenya (HAK). HAK’s Executive Director Mrs. Fanis est Ali was booked for theatre was on 21st June 2013.

Lisiagali together with her team of Tele-Counselors took over Dr. Mwero says Ali’s medical bill which was the matter and involved the largest government hospital at the waived include hospital admission, theatre deposit and two Coast to come to the rescue of the boy. “When I called Coast theater procedures for both hands to be corrected at differGeneral Hospital, it was hard to get them to take on this parent occasions, ward charges and outpatient follow-ups. “The ticular case. I was disturbed as I imagined how the little boy Ali bill is approximately Ksh. 100,000 but we shall take care of had suffered pain and not even able to hold anything since the boy operation at no cost. We have so far corrected one December 2012. Thanks to Ali’s physicians at the Coast Genhand and the reconstructive surgery of the second hand will eral Hospital who has been carrying out several preparatory treatments, particularly - Dr. Suhayl Bagha, I was directed to be determined by the progress of the initial procedure. the hospital administrator’s office for further negotiations on Unfortunately, we could not perform corrective surgery on behalf of Ali,” Fanis says. both hands due to the many hours one procedure takes,” he says.

Fanis then contacted the hospital and talked to the hospital’s Chief Administrator – Dr. Mwero who involved his Social Worker - Mr. Nyariki to carry out a study on Ali’s case.

A recommendation was made after the study to Dr. Mwero Page 5

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“Thank God, the first procedure was successful.

Hopefully by the end of this year, Ali will have back his two hands and will live a normal life,” Dr. Mwero affirms.

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Gutuka drama dispels retrogressive practices in Maasai land the community perceptions and attitudes leading to a largely peaceful 2013 elections,” observed Jebiwot Sumbeiywo who manages IRC’s Peace Initiative Kenya project.

The vast coverage of OlMaa fm is within Narok County, about 200kms away from Nairobi and is the home of the Maasai Maara Game Reserve; one of the eighth wonders of the world. OlMaa FM is the only radio station based within Narok County and Gutuka helped OlMaa to be gender responsive with its focus on the girl child.

Amongst the Maasai community, the greatest threat to the girl child is being circumcised at a tender age and subsequently, being married off to some old man as second or even third wife.

“Maasai women and girls mostly fear that they must be married off at an early age but from Gutuka episodes, it is evident that education comes first; not marriage. Both boys and girls have a right to go to school. The girls should not be married off at a tender age,” says 70 year old granny Esther Nkamasiai.

Yet another 50 year old granny Elizabeth Parkipale, reveals that her daughter in-law, Susan Naseren regularly convened radio listening groups at her home when Gutuka aired and translated the program into Maasai for those of who didn’t understand Kiswahili. “I agree with Gutuka that FGM and early marriages are not in the interest of the girl child. We as Maasai community must now take our girls to school and empower women to take charge of their lives,” she says.

Gutuka radio drama winner Susan Naseren with her seven month old daughter

“Gutuka radio drama had a huge impact on my life and the larger Maasai community. As a young woman, listening to Gutuka inspired me to boldly confront issues affecting my well being in the society. I am working with fellow women in Suswa to seek solutions to our age-old challenges regardless of the opposition that we may face.” these were the words of 23 year-old Susan Naseren who emerged best Gutuka radio drama listener aired on Olmaa fm.

“In line with the stations objective of informing and educating the community, Gutuka radio drama presented an opportunity to widen our scope and tackle critical issues of conflict and gender imbalance in our community,” says Peter Kaleke the station Administrator.

Oltoilo le Maa (the voice of the maasai) is the clarion call for the Olmaa (Radio Internet) Ranet which is the widely listened to radio station in the South Rift region. “The airing of 18 episodes of Gutuka in Olmaa was apt. The program impacted heavily on Page 6

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“The community members who couldn’t understand the Swahili play were willing to learn and I am happy to have been of help to them. In my interpretations, I challenged women to arise and say no to gender based violence. Women are now willing to support their fellow women and for the first time we elected a woman Ms Peris Tobiko in the neighboring Kajiado County as Member of Parliament,” affirms Susan.

“I agree with Gutuka that FGM and early marriages are not in the interest of the girl child. ”- granny Elizabeth Parkipale “Gutuka has contributed a lot in educating the masses on the need for peaceful coexistence and was relevant to the community during the elections. The themes covered were at the core of the Maasai community and will ultimately have a long lasting impact in the community,” says Paul Volume 1, Issue 2

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Nkalo, a Maasai elder.

Hellen Soila the Olmaa Radio programs manager was part of Gutuka production team. “This was a powerful well thought out drama by Well Told Story.

The only challenge was language and there is need to consider recasting the same in Maa for the good of our target audience who are largely monolingual,” says 26 year old Moi University graduate in communication public relations.

Mercy Kilelu who was the Gutuka program presenter on OlMaa fm says that most of the call-ins were against female genital mutilation and the community

responded well to peace messaging.

She adds that there was no single person who called, men and women alike, in support of early marriages.

“When the program came, it reinforced our peace and anti gender based violence messaging tailor-made for the community over time. Our news casts were complemented by Gutuka radio drama. For instance, when we reported that a girl child had been taken out of school and married off, the call in sessions that followed Gutuka airing could discuss specific examples of the news in their own

communities,” reveals Olmaa Information officer John Koisani.

“From Gutuka radio drama and other teaching on gender, we have dropped cultural traditions like early marriages. We have come to understand the need for taking both boys and girls to school. We now don’t discriminate between a boy and girl. We have livestock (cows and goats) but it is us parents who take care of the animals. All the children are in school and we hope they get to come back home with degrees,” concludes granny Esther.

Olmaa Ranet Staff led by Peter Kaleke(left) when they awarded their best Gutuka Radio drama listener

Gutuka radio drama winner Susan Naseren receives her price from Paul Shukuru the chairman of the Olmaa Radio station at Suswa early June 2013

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Two grannies among the ardent Gutuka radio listeners who formed a radio listening group witnessed their daughter, Susan receive a goat.

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“Let us go back to our morals,” Nandi County Peace platform appeals The state of affairs in regards to morality in the larger Nandi County; at least according to revelations of the County Peace Platform is degrading.

The results of moral decay in Nandi County are astounding and the newly formed County Peace platform is determined to reverse the trend. The Platform is comprised of local opinion leaders who have come together under the USAID funded Peace Initiative Kenya project to address conflict and gender based violence in their neighborhood .

“Morals in this county have been thrown through the window with old women seducing young men, old men making advances to their daughters’ in-law and young men and women engaging in awful sexual relationships every other day,” says Irene Magut who chairs the Nandi County Peace platform

Mrs Irene Magut states her point on gender based violence issues in Nandi County during peace platform meeting held at Kapsabet in mid May 2013

“The Nandi community seems to have thrown morals to the dogs,” concurs Moses Chepchumba a member of the peace platform. Moses cised. The boys were circumcised in age sets of 18 years and and his colleagues in the platform argues that the societal fabric has above. Today young boys of 4-12 years are being cut and been severely dented as people abandon cultural values and practices thus imagining that they are men to engage in affairs of in pursuit of hedonism, considered as a modern way of life. grownups,” says Mama Franciscka Jerop, a member of the “In our culture, a mother could not see her son gets circum Peace Platform.

Anecdote # 1

Anecdote # 2

Cases of unwanted pregnancies are reported on a daily basis. Recently, a young unmarried lady who was expecting aborted an 8 month pregnancy and threw the baby in a communal pit latrine on the plot where she lived. When one of the tenants went to relieve himself, he heard a baby crying from the latrine and called fellow tenants for help.

Milca Chemos a teacher at Kapsabet and a member of the County Peace Platform recounts that only 2 months ago, she mobilized County Peace Platform members to rescue a form two girl (name withheld) who had been quietly married off by her step-father in collusion with her own mother.

The tenants; including Eunice Lel, a University student and member of the Nandi county peace platform devised a way to remove the baby from the pit latrine and rushed him to the local health facility.

The girl; who was the best female student in her class late last year had been forced into marriage on account of her mother having come with her to the present marriage.

Sadly, the baby passed on after 2 days. The mother was held in police custody for some time and later released from the cells after the girl’s father bribed the police officers.

The locals had convinced her mother and father to remove her from school and marry her off. Interventions by the Nandi County Peace platform saved her and she resumed her classes in form three at a local school.

Eunice Lel a university student and a member of the Nandi County Peace Platfprm at the platform meeting held in Kapsabet town, May 2013

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Milcah Chemos a local teacher and member of the Nandi County Peace Platform

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Anecdote # 3

Anecdote # 4

In early May 2013, a middle aged woman lured a high school boy who was enrooted to school to her home. Schools had resumed for second term but the woman chose to cohabit with the boy for some time. When the boy left their home in Marigat to come to school at Kapsabet, he was given school fees but the allures of the woman distracted him and he ended up in the woman’s bosom.

Meshack Chumba who is a TOT under PIK

The boy remained at in Nandi County the woman’s house in the outskirts of Kapsabet town for 2 weeks being used as an object for personal sexual gratification. She even took away the money the boy had been given for school fees and expended the monies on pleasures with the boy.

It was until one of the county Peace Platform member, Meshack Chumba reported the matter to the government officers on the ground that the boy was rescued and taken to school. The woman was arraigned in court for wrongfully detaining a school boy.

Child labor has also noted and reported in parts of Nandi County. Early this year, a businesswoman in Kapsabet town hired a 14 year old boy to run her errands at Francesca Jerop at Kapsabet after the County the green grocery.

Peace Platform Meeting Community member brought this matter to the County Peace Platform Franciscka Cherop, a grassroots trainer under the USAID funded Peace Initiative Kenya in Nandi County who worked with the local assistant chief to scuttle the woman’s determination to hire a minor. The boy was taken back to his parents and has resumed schooling.

Francisca, who underwent training on peace and GBV under Peace Initiative Kenya project and become a trainer at the grassroots, says she now understood gender based violence and cannot withstand it in her community.

Batuli Juma praises the Exchange Visit program under PIK project Batuli Juma is an active member of the Mt. Elgon Peace platform formed under the USAID funded Peace Initiative Kenya Project.

The Ministry of Education officer in Cheptais district has been on the forefront championing for an end to violence against women in Mt. Elgon region.

Under Peace Initiative Kenya interventions, Batuli is remembered for her rescue efforts of a 7-year-old girl who survived rape in Cheptais and was helped to access justice by the peace platform.

In mid May 2013, Batuli was one of the 24 beneficiaries from Nandi, Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia and Bungoma Counties identified by Rural Women Peace Link (RWPL) who took part in a one week exchange visit to Sauti Ya Wanawake –Pwani, Mombasa. At the tail end of the exchange visit, Batuli could not hide her joy for the opportunity and experience gained from the visit. Below is her narrative: Batuli Juma

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I lack words to express my sincere appreciation to USAID for this lifetime Leveraging Grassroots Resources: July 2013

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opportunity. I have never come across such an opportunity where one can travel to a different region, meet different people and learn so much in a short period of time. I consider this experience an eye opener especially in our work as GBV activists in Western Kenya.

From Likoni and Mtongwe chapters visit to the work done by the Taveta chapter lessons on coordination, the power of advocacy and networking will stick in my mind for ever. I was challenged and inspired by Sauti ya WanawakePwani work at the Gender Based Violence Recovery Centre (GBVRC) in Taveta.

Above: RWPL team and SYWP-Taveta chapter women at the women led fish project in Taveta

It is amazing how Sauti women are running income generating projects started by Sauti like the Fish farming and the table banking project that involves women saving Ksh 200 to create a pool to borrow from and start their own small businesses in the community were great ideas. It is such projects that are much needed in Mt Elgon considering that women are subjugated under poverty. From this trip, I am inspired to initiate grassroots activities aimed at improving living standards of destitute women as well as sustain their programs beyond donor funding.

I have been enriched with skills in community mobilization, formation of movement, advocacy and lobbying skills, leadership and problem solving in organizations, formation of village level women micro-finance schemes and skills on how to collaborate with different multi-ectoral departments in solving community problems and influencing policy.”

PIK Scorecard report at 9 months Over 30 participants drawn from IRC and her Implementing Partners gathered in Mombasa for 3 days to reflect on the project progress thus far. Peace Initiative Kenya (PIK) Project which is essentially a campaign for peace and protection of women from Sexual and Gender Based Violence (S/GBV) was launched officially in November 2012 and by June 2013 was in its 4th quarter.

The project that runs in 18 counties in 4 regions Nairobi, Nyanza, Rift Valley and Coast set out to mobilize voices of peace in Page 10

the communities through regular multi sectoral peace platform meetings, training of communities on matters of peace and GBV, undertaking public awareness through mass media and events in the communities.

“Many may not know the amount of work that went into achieving a peaceful 2013 March 4th polls in Kenya,” says Steven Kadenyo of PeaceNet Kenya who further adds that, “In the run-up to the elections, 4 multi sectoral regional peace summits were held in which communities and their commitment and preparedness

Leveraging Grassroots Resources: July 2013

for a peaceful outcome in the postelection period.”

The project started off with the development of a Peace and GBV training manual that was used in activities targeting youth, women leaders, teachers and community health volunteers/educators at the grassroots level. Women groups and networks were specifically used to help promote peace and GBV awareness and prevention. From these activities, quarter 4 reports indicate that over 30,000 people have been reached with specialized training on

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Peace and GBV. In the project review meeting, it was evident from PIK partners’ presentations that realizing a peaceful election was no mean feat. This was as a result of concerted efforts of various actors under the PIK project, the government of Kenya, Mercy corps, Kenya Red Cross, Pact, and many other organizations.

The meeting brought out the importance of communicating work done under the project through success stories that will reach out to the public, enabling them to support PIK’s work.

Partner’s feedback on what they consider IRC to be based on their engagement under PIK clearly brought out the nexus between Conflict and GBV. Some partners viewed IRC as an organization that is out to save women due to its work on GBV through different projects.

Others saw IRC as an organization that endeavors to promote peace by pulling together goals that work to end violence. In line with the larger IRC vision from harm to home, other partners summed up that IRC is an organization that touches the life of the vulnerable by on one hand preventing violence from occurring and on the other responding to natural and manmade emergencies.

As the prime agency in the PIK project we serve as link not just to USAID but also other stakeholders/partners nationally

“PIK work can be further sustained through enhancing lasting relations among partner organizations and reaching out to government funding structures that support peace and SGBV work,” - Wairigia Razia. and regionally,” says Jebiwot Sumbeiywo who is the projects Chief of Party. “IRC makes sure that international guideline on GBV are known to all, communicates success stories from the partners to the USAID and monitors and evaluate the PIK project on a continuous basis and so far so good,” she adds.

The meeting which was also attended by USAIDKenya representatives looked into the forthcoming priority issues including when to conduct the National summit on Peace and GBV, disbarment of small grants and how best to continue PIK work beyond the end of project funding in September. “PIK work can be further sustained through enhancing lasting relations among partner organizations and reaching out to government funding structures that support peace and SGBV work,” advised Wairigia Razia who facilitated the project review meeting.

Left: Paul Odumbe makes a presentation on PeaceNet Kenya’s involvement in the project at the Review meeting in June 3012, Mombasa.

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A tribute to Phoebe Omondi: Gender and Peace champion The demise of Phoebe Atieno Omondi who served the International Rescue Committee as Gender and Conflict Specialist under Peace Initiative Kenya project on June 1st 2013 was untimely. Colleagues, family and friends were shocked by the news of her brutal extermination under mysterious circumstances. “Having stood against all forms of violence against women, Phoebe was most unlucky to be slain under the same circumstances she fought against,” laments Jebiwot Sumbeiywo, the Chief of Party, Peace Initiative Kenya.

Jebiwot observes that although it has not been established why Phoebe was killed, the brutal attack against her demonstrates the high level of violence against women in Kenya.

“The attack raises serious concerns of how Kenyans are increasingly resorting to violence whenever they are faced with difficulties in life and demonstrates the need for continued work on enhancing peaceful conflict resolution mechanisms and stopping all forms of violence against women and girls,” she affirms.

Police reports indicate that her body was found badly mutilated in a bush along Akala- Bondo road in Siaya County. Bondo OCPD Paul Kiarie who led the police to the crime scene at Majamba village in Rarieda said her personal valuables including monies were not taken by her assailant(s) which point to foul play in this heinous murder case.

development, gender programming, and project management, development of Information, Education and Communication materials and organizational development.

In the course of her work with different organizations including IRC, Phoebe developed excellent cross-cultural skills.

In this short period of 10 months, Phoebe had literally travelled to over half of the 18 counties where Peace Initiative Kenya project is under implementation. “She was passionate about her work and wanted equity, justice and peace across Kenya. Phoebe was instrumental in initiating the County Peace Platforms where peace and GBV actors meet regularly to discuss and churn out critical matters affecting their lives with a view of coming to an amicable resolution.

Phoebe also undertook the development of a training manual on Peace and gender based violence under the Peace Initiative Kenya project. It is this manual that was used to train peace and GBV actors from the National to county and grassroots level ahead of the 2013 polls with very good results- minimal or no violence reported across the country during the March 4th 2013 polls.

It is our sincere hope that no stone should be left unturned and that Phoebe’s assassin(s) will ultimately be brought to book.

Phoebe like many IRC staff under Peace Initiative Kenya Project joined the International Rescue Committee in September 2012. She was a development practitioner with over 25 year’s experience. She was a skilled, motivated and dynamic professional with extensive experience in international development in Africa, Asia and the United States of America.

IRC will greatly miss her competencies in training curriculum

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PIK April to June 2013 activities snapshot summary 2

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IRC empowers CBO’s through small grants One of the unique designs of the Peace Initiative Kenya project is the sub-grants to grassroots women organizations. The small grants under PIK are to be disbursed to grassroots organizations through a careful selection process conducted by the County Peace Platforms in 18 counties.

Each of the sub-grantees would get USD 5,000 to implement a peace or GBV project for a period of 3 months.

From the 4 main regions where PIK is working, a total of 58 Community Based Organizations (CBOs) have been earmarked for funding and so far 30 proposals have been approved. Twelve CBOs from Nyanza, South Rift and Central Rift have thus far been funded and are embarking on activity implementation from July 2013. Seven proposals from the Coast have been approved and another 3 are expected to be added to the pool after the review process is completed.

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Feedback session for the visiting incoming IRC president David Miliband during his maiden visit to Kenya.

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Incoming IRC president David Miliband responds to PIK presentation

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Henry Kimonge when he visited Jeza Women group in Garsen, Tana River County to review their small grants proposal.

Proposals from Nairobi’s informal settlements of Kariobangi, Kayole, Kasarani and Kibera are under review and it is hoped that all the aspiring women grassroots CBO’s will have been evaluated and if found eligible funded before the close of July, 2013. The same applies to CBO’s from the North Rift.

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“The small sub-grants are being disbursed in 2 installments totaling KSH. 425,000. These projects should run for a minimum of 2 months and thereafter prepare a report on the challenges, achievements and lessons learnt,” says Henry Kimonge, PIK’s Grants Specialist .

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

Telephone: 254-726082140 254-733701040 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.