Peace Initiative Kenya Magazine Volume 1, issue 3

P EACE I NITIATIVE K ENYA PIK CAMPAIGN AT ITS PEAK Volume 1, Issue 3

October 2013

Inside this issue:

COVER PHOTO

From private to public domain: the gender based violence crisis in Kenya

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Enhance management of Gender Based Violence in Kenya

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Thus far, Kenya has the “hardware” but we need the “software” to deal with Gender Based Violence

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Kenya Government committed to end gender based violence

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A local Chief utilizes knowledge from Peace and GBV trainings to transforms his location IRC and RWPL marks the 2013 day of peace in Eldoret town

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Nairobi County Women Representative, Rachel Shebesh, when she officially opened the two day National Summit on GBV and Peace held in Nairobi.

Photo by Valine Moraa-IRC

Word from the Editor, Welcome, Peace Initiative Kenya Magazine Volume 1 Issue 3 is a hallmark of the PIK project in that it documents the grand finale activity of the project: the National Summit on Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Peace In this issue, you will read more about the National Summit on GBV and Peace whose theme was From Private to the Public Domain: the gender based violence crisis in Kenya. This all important meeting in the lifespan of the Peace Initiative Kenya Project took place on August 28th and 29th and goes along way in shaping the management of gender based violence in Kenya.

Articles on the summit span from the first page to the ninth page and highlights the challenges in management of GBV and the steps to be taken by government and non-governmental actors in stamping out gender based violence. A success story of a chief who is using knowledge and skills gained form the Peace Initiative Kenya trainings in Uasin Gishu County is on page 10.

On Page 11 and 12, you will read a story on the International Day of Peace. The article entitled IRC and RWPL marks 2013 International peace day has been colorfully presented not just in word but also in pictures.

Enjoy the reading.

Project Goal

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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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 Design and Layout: Valine Moraa Peace and Media department.

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From Private to Public Domain: the Gender Based Violence Crisis in Kenya August 29th and 30th 2013 and analysis of data on GBV trends will go down in history of across the country. Many questioned the Kenya as a milestone in the war sufficient Sexual Offences Act (2002) in against gender based violence when deterring GBV amongst other laws on actors came together to declare Gender gender. The need for proper framework based violence as a crisis in Kenya. to be put in place to safeguard women Organised under the USAID and girls against GBV cycle were highly funded Peace Initiative Kenya, the Naproposed. tional Summit was a culmination of a “There is need for the Private series of activities and initiatives that sector to get involved in addressing have been implemented in 18 counties for the last 12 Chief of Party PIK/IRC, Jebiwot months across Kenya. The Sumbeiywo, welcomes participants two-day summit themed, at the National Summit ‘From Private to Public Domain: the Gender Based Violence Crisis in Kenya’ brought together national and local government officials, representatives of civil society and development partners as well as stakeholders in GenderBased Violence (GBV).

The participants sought to understand the scope of gender based violence as well as address and audit the GBV because for every victim of GBV, management and prevention of GBV in the absence incurs costs on the emKenya with a view to better the prevenployer in terms of lost productivity and tion and management approaches. insurance claims,” argued Cyprian For the first time in the history Nyamwamu, one of the panelist who is of the country, over 300 peace and antian expert in Governance and Gender GBV Champions converged at the national level to audit the management of gender based violence across Kenya. Delegates drawn from the four main conflict prone regions of Nairobi, Nyanza Rift Valley and Coast were treated to intensive and well researched, expert presentations in the management of the gender based violence in Kenya.

The 2 day summit was designed to address opportunities including commitments for improved service provision and prevention of GBV presented by devolution for effective GBV management. The meeting provided an opportunity to share best practices and exchange experiences on how to tackle the GBV crisis at various levels within the national and county governance structures and in the communities.

Gender and Governance expert Cyprian Nyamwamu makes a Among the critical issues that emerged from the 2 day meeting presentation on Threats and opportunities on management of gender violence at devolved units during the National Summit were Lack of collection, collation Page 3

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Legal expert, Betty Murungi, when presenting on challenges in GBV management at the National Summit

issues. Presenter after presenter appealed to scholars from all walks of life including anthropologists, statisticians, journalists and celebrities to lend their professional contributions to the management of GBV in the society.

The meeting also explored how to improve efficiencies in county governments rather than “devolving” bureaucracy and the defiant culture against GBV previously experienced in the central government era “The need for a unified approach for public information and communication activities that go beyond the “heat of the moment like the National summit” said Betty Murungi.

It was evident from the meeting that coordination of GBV work was a major challenge for most actors should all actors work in response, legislation, litigation and advocacy or should agencies take areas of their specialization and avoid duplication?

Challenges exist in capacity especially in the area of up scaling services towards counties The National Summit was the peak of the project under implementation the International Rescue Committee, FIDA (K), Sauti Ya Wanawake Pwani, Rural Women Peace Link, PeaceNet Kenya, African Woman and Child Feature Services (AWC), Coalition on Violence against Women (COVAW), Well Told Story and Healthcare Assistance Kenya (HAK).

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Enhance management of Gender Based Violence in Kenya

socio-economic wastage to emotional and psychosocial abuse, the magnitude of GBV impact on humankind is immeasurable. The economic burden on the country and family of the survivors is monumental. Increase in GBV across the country is a major contributor to other challenges including sexually transmitted diseases, early pregnancies that in turn lead to birth complications that claim the lives of many women every year.

All GBV legal policy structures and action plans must anticipate a multiplicity of cross sector linkNairobi County Women Representative, Rachel Shebesh, addressing participants at the National Summit on GBV ages. Governmental structures such National Equality and Gender Commission (NGEC) and Achieving a peaceful, safe and secure society for women the Gender Directorate under the Ministry of devolution and and girls requires concerted efforts and coordination of various National Planning must clearly outline as well as put in place actors. In recent times, media reports are rife with all manner of workable protocols and procedures for exchange of information sexual pervasions with bestiality becoming more pronounced and referrals across different service action points. This is critical and as Hon. Rachel Shebesh observed at the national summit in all sectors but particularly health, law enforcement and social on Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Peace, sexual and gender service which are the safety nets for the GBV survivors. violence is a crisis in Kenya. “It is not just women and girls who Dealing with GBV is critical to the socio economic are targeted for sexual exploitation but animals too! Reports development of the country. In 2008, the Commission of Infrom Nairobi slums indicate that rape has become a rite of pasquiry into the Post-Election Violence- CIPEV made a significant sage as men swoops girls for their own selfish sexual gratificaeffort to address gender-based violence (GBV) in its investigation,’ said Shebesh. tion. Among the key findings of the commission were that there Lack of accountability and inaction amongst the duty was delay by government in responding when violence began bearers when it comes to prevention and response from the seand there was a failure by government to anticipate the violence. curity agencies, health service providers, the education sector, Officers in the public administration and security forces were the legal justice systems and the community at large constitutes a also overwhelmed and lacked co-ordination. major gap in GBV management.

The discussion of managing GBV during times of crisis At the two-day national summit held in Nairobi, over remains an important area for GBV management 250 participants spent time auditing GBV dialogue. But evidence adduced at the summit management at National and County level. through survivors experience sharing session indiThe meeting whose theme was ‘From Private to “The P3 forms are cates that GBV continues to be perpetrated in the sociPublic Domain: the Gender Based Violence Crisis in inaccessible and in ety every other day and is indeed the crisis of our time.

Kenya’ brought together national and local most cases they are According to the UNIFEM report (2009), it is worth availed a bit too late government officials, representatives of civil when crucial evidence taking note that men get access and take advantage of society and stakeholders in GBV from eighteen has been erased. This women and girls in their different capacities and relacounties. The summit addressed opportunities means that if you are tionships that include, intimate partner, close relatives including commitments for improved service filling information retand person with authority such as teachers. Inclusion of provision and prevention of GBV presented by rospectively, you may not be able to capture men and boys in gender based violence campaigns is devolution for effective GBV management. everything.” Dr. Pamela essential. There is need to direct efforts to men inclusion Forms of gender based violence Godia, Ministry of Health in GBV programming who are considered perpetrators range from sexual exploitation and abuse, of gender violence. defilement, rape, domestic violence and The Kenya National Action Plan on UN Resolution female circumcision not only have a direct impact on reproduc1325 that speaks to women’s protection and empowerment tive health of the survivors but also predispose them to a HIV/ must be rolled out and taken advantage of in the devolution Aids infection. National Police Services statistics on Crimes for process. This includes and is not limited to ensuring that ade2010-2012 show a rise of up to 22% in sexual gender based vioquate resources can be allocated to county programs that lence reporting. This has a correlation with HIV/Aids which ensure inclusion of women and girls in the peace kills more people than any other disease in Kenya and dealing and development agenda. with GBV will go a long way in reducing this pandemic.From Page 4

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Thus far, Kenya has the “hardware” but we need the “software” to deal with Gender Based Violence

Kenya has in the past decade made some investment in policy and legal frameworks for the prevention and mitigation of Gender Based Violence (GBV). The mainstream development framework, Vision 2030 targets promotion of campaigns to eliminate retrogressive and cultural practices, making services more accessible, putting in place an efficient legal system to reduce gender based violence and other human rights violations. National documents on GBV worth highlighting include National Policy Framework on the Administration of the Sexual Offences Act, National Guidelines on Management of Sexual Violence in Kenya, National Framework Towards Response and Prevention of Gender Based Violence which augment other sector and institutions specific policies.

To date, a number of gender recovery centers have been set up in few hospitals in the country to respond to GBV medical cases which reach the hospitals. The efforts of the last few years however have been minimal in respect to the magnitude of the problem. Gender based violence is the silent crisis of our time often perpetrated in secrecy and under the cover of societal values and norms. It affects the poor and the rich, the young and old alike, men and women and most devastatingly, the children and it is manifested in physical assault, early marriages, sexual exploitation and abuse that lead to unwanted pregnancies and sometimes, death.

The United Nations estimates that one in three women are undergoing forced marriage before age 18, and almost 13,000 girls under 15 years of age are forcibly married off every day. These young girls are forced to drop out of school, are restricted from joining the workforce, and cannot contribute to household incomes. Young mothers under 15-years-old face five times the risk of maternal mortality as mothers in their twenties, and 65 percent of all cases of obstetric fistula occur in Page 5

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girls under the age of 18. If a girl is uneducated, unemployed or dies or is unhealthy after childbirth, her ability to protect her family, contribute to society, and realize her full potential is lost.

A lot more needs to be done to operationalize GBV laws and policies and heavy investments put in place for the prevention of GBV given its unprecedented increase across the country The country’s resources are also being used to manage the burden of diseases including HIV/AIDS related to GBV, alcohol/drug abuse, depression related illness which all stem from cycles of violence in GBV over long periods of time.

The UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon is on record Sexual violence, whenever and wherever it occurs, is a vile crime. It must be exposed and met with the anger and action that it deserves. Those who hold power and influence have a special duty to step forward and be part of a global coalition of champions determined to break this “evil” through a more consistent and rigorous investigation and prosecution of sexual violence crimes as a central aspect of deterrence, and ultimately prevention The Ministry of Devolution and Planning and County Governments need to prioritize funding for gender based violence interventions at all levels. External donor agencies and local corporate funding to also prioritize GBV funding to complement Kenyan government efforts to deal with gender based violence in Kenya. Other than the existing and emerging legal mechanisms and infustructure, we need to match the same with actions that deter all forms of gender based violence in our society.

Last but not least, as we push for gender equity in Kenya, we cannot afford to tolerate gender based violence. We call for a multi-sectoral approach in prioritizing prevention and response in all sectors starting from our homes to schools, hospitals, security agencies and our justice systems. It is time we moved GBV from the private domain and made it public concern worth action from all.

Above Left: Superintendent of Police, Marcella Andanje, addresses participants at the National Summit. She called for facilitation of police to address GBV issues Below Right: Participants at the National Summit listen to National Police Service Representative, Marcella Andanje, share her experiences in managing issues on GBV

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Nairobi County Women Representative, Rachel Shebesh, has a word with USAID Mission Director Karen Freeman after she officially opened the National Summit on GBV and Peace. Looking on is IRC’s Jebiwot Sumbeiywo.

Participants registration desk

RWPL delegates group discussion

PeaceNet delegates group discussion

Arial view

of delegat

es

ts take Participan energizer part in an

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COVAW delegates group discussion

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Day 1 of the National Summit was indeed action packed. From one on one discussions to speeches, media interviews, artistic performances on GBV and Peace, audience listenership and group photos as illustrated in the collage by Peace Initiative Kenya Media office

Day 2 was more colourful with legislators and duty bearers delibering on how best to mange GBV in tat National and County level

Above: A participant with a branded bag with GBV Messages Top Right: A panelist makes a presentation on the second day of the National Summit

Kwale Governor Fatma AChani responds to Governance challenges in management of GBV.

Above: A Participants (Lady in white) asks a question during plenary session.

Right: Participants listen

Left: Elated participants follow a performance by Utena theatre group

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Hon Millie Odhiambo responds to the legislative concerned raised at the National summit key among them the laws that deal with GBV

Paul Omole from Migori shares the Migori County Peace Platform experiences under PIK Project

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Kenya Government committed to end gender based violence Gender based violence in all its forms and purposes are considered as one of the most pervasive forms of human rights violations. In Kenya, it takes place in all regions as the recorded data indicates and is increasing in a large scale.

Gender based violence is also known to have devastating effects on individuals and communities, often resulting to physical, mental and health problems hence overstretching the health facilities from their expected capacity to cope.

Even though it came to the fore following the post-election violence of 2007– 2008 when many women and men underwent untold violations, gender based violence takes place on a daily basis but escalates during electioneering period.

The menace has continued to rise forcing the Judiciary to invoke heavy punishment on perpetrators even as the Government has also introduced measures to help end it.

“We have developed programmes for prevention and response towards eradicating Gender Based Vio-

services and rehabilitation services in violence, Female Genital Mutilation various parts of the country (FGM) and trafficking as sex slaves and In a speech read on her behalf ritual sacrifice.

by Catherine Muoki, Di“Conflict impacts women and rector of Gender at the men differently with women Ministry of Devolution, most killed, maimed, raped Waiguru noted that the “The fight against GBV and displaced during such trageinterventions have pro- must involve all of us. dies,” Waiguru said.

As government, we vided a solid basis for Noting that women also undergo have formed male shifting social norms trauma of witnessing their chilgroups to champion that have perpetuated the rights of women by dren and husbands being killed violence against women using fathers, brothand maimed by conflicts, Waiguru hence demonstrating ers, husbands to serve called for support towards coming potential for lasting soas advocates to end up with initiatives such as giving GBV within their com- credit to women as a means of cial change. munities and society She said that empowering them economically as following the ratification as a whole.” - Hon. a way of eradicating gender based Anne Waiguru, Cabinet of the United Nations violence.

Secretary for Devolution and Security There is need to change norms National Planning Council Resolution and behaviours by emphasising 1325, Kenya has deprevention through education and veloped an action plan that incorporates awareness programmes which can chala human centred security approach that lenge norms about domestic violence focuses on the protection of individuals and enhancing women’s control over rather than on defending the physical resources. and political integrity of state.

These sentiments were echoed by Karen The intervention on strengthening the Freeman, USAID Kenya legal systems and accelerating Mission Director who noted: “Gender implementation of existing genbased violence is an obstacle to developder based violence related poliment as it robs mothers and daughters cies and legislations have been an opportunity, undermines their digprioritized. nity, safety and human rights.”

The government has underFreeman said that USAID was taken measures to protect and in partnership with the Ministry of promote women’s rights Health and had established five gender through Sexual Offences Act based violence recovery centres in the 2006 as well as the Employment country. “These model centres provide Act 2007 that protects women comprehensive post-rape services such as from sexual violence, counter legal, psychological and mental support,” trafficking and sexual harassshe added. ment. “The policy also insists The model centres provide comthat the inclusion of women in prehensive post-rape services including peace committees at County legal, psychological and medical support.

Director of Gender, Minisyry of Devolution-Catherine Muoki– speaks levels comprise not less than a at the National Summit on GBV and Peace. Above insert: Hon. Anne Under the leadership of Peace Waiguru, Cabinet Secretary for Devolution and National Planning third of the committees,” she Initiative Kenya (PIK), a USAID funded added. initiative, County peace platforms, paralence (GBV) in the country,” said Anne Waiguru observed that in spite legals and loaning schemes have been Waiguru, Cabinet Secretary for Devoluof having policies and frameworks in started in 18 counties with the aim of tion and Planning at the National Sumplace, ending gender based violence empowering victims of gender based mit GBV and peace. require a change of mind-sets at family violence.

Waiguru said the Governement with and community levels to ensure preventPIK has so far given out $5,000 (KSh43 her development partners have put in ing violence becomes everyone’s responmillion) to women’s groups towards the place interventions including telephone sibility. She observed that it is demeanmanagement of GBV issues as help lines, shelters and rescue homes, ing to deny anyone their social right as well as peace building and gender based violence recovery centres, manifested in cultural practices that conflict management legal aid clinics, psychosocial support subject women and girls to domestic within their commuPage 8

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Media has its role cut out in the campaign against GBV Sexual and Gender Based Violence has for a long the story as it happened. They are usually protected by the famtime been treated as a family issue. It has been disily and the people around them and a journalist is treated with cussed in hushed tones and not even the neighbors are a lot of caution,” said one of the participants. allowed to comment because that is the way of life.

This mostly happens when the perpetrator is someone close to Victims and survivors of gender based violence have, the victim or is a family member. therefore, had to live with the effects of the atrocities with nowhere to go and no one to rescue them. Some cultures have Protection normalised some types of violence like female genital mutilaWhen this happens the story tends to lose credibility. tion and wife beating. This makes it hard for the victims to Government institutions have also not made their work easier. report the cases because it is like going against the community.

Getting information which should be easily and freely shared For proper education on the negative effects of gender with the public is not easy as they treat it as protected. At times based violence to be known so that these trends can end, civic the journalists are taken round and round and some officers education, accompanied by strong and persistent anti-gender even demand for bribes or imaginary fees before they can rebased violence campaigns have to be carried all over the counlease any information. try.

This delays the journalist’s work and he or she might However, for this to be effective, the media has to be not be able to meet the deadline or miss the whole story altoinvolved by highlighting these stories that can gether. help change attitudes around gender based The journalists also blamed Kangaroo courts for makviolence. ing stories disappear. “At times you follow a domestic However, despite this the media faces a violence cases and start documenting then when daunting task of highlighting stories you are almost done you hear that the victim has on gender based violence. withdrawn the case and that they are going to The challenge of reducing sort it out at the family level,” one of the jouror even ending GBV is, however, nalists shared. not only felt by the victims and This, he noted, was very discouraging and that survivors alone. This was discovis why some journalists never bother with genered during media training on how der based violence stories. to report gender based violence Other journalists also confessed to having their and peace stories organized by Afriown personal biases against gender violence can Woman and Child Feature stories. These are people who are caught in Service under the Peace Initiative between their own culture and career.

Kenya (PIK) project supported by the For example, a journalist who has been brought up USAID. The over 30 journalists were in a community that practices female genital mutilation drawn from the 18 counties that were mostly finds it hard to cover a story condemning the vice. affected during the 2007-2008 post-election Muzzled? A photo journalist “We are also human beings and are not perfect so it is hard violence indicated that there are many chal- follows proceeding at the Nationals to draw a line between cultural beliefs and what I’m exSummit. When survivors of GBV lenges they face in reporting gender based narrated their experiences pected to write,” said one of the participants. violence stories.

Most journalists complained that they lacked facilitaChallenges tion by their media houses to enable them cover the stories Despite all these challenges, Cyprian Nyamwamu, a effectively. “At times you are very interested in the story but for gender and devolution expert urged the journalists to find ways you to get it you must travel many kilometers. This means that of overcoming the challenges and be agents of change. you have to use your fare and airtime for making calls. If you ”Journalists are expected to be agents of change. They should be ask for a refund from the head office, no one will listen to objective and most important; they should ask questions that you,” said one of the journalists. no one else can ask.”

The obstacles, however, do not end there. Another According to Maryfrances Lukera an advocate at the problem is that even when journalists strive to cover GBV stoHigh Court, journalists must read and understand the laws, ries, somehow they never find space. Some journalists comBills and Acts that connect to gender based violence before plained that after going through the troubles and compiling the reporting stories so as not to pass wrong information to the stories, they never see the light of the day. public.

According to the journalists, media houses find politi“Some good bills like the marriage bill have always suffered cal stories ‘juicier’ than the story of a woman who was gang judgment by the media. raped.

Unfortunately the journalists who are trusted by their audience The journalists also noted access to information as do not take their time to read the whole document and give another challenging obstacle. This is both from the survivor a balanced report,” she said, adding that this misleads and the relevant government offices like the police. the public into taking sides without understanding “At times it is even hard to talk to the victim to hear the positive gains of the document.

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A local Chief utilizes knowledge from Peace and GBV trainings to transforms his location Chief Simon Chepsiror is a beneficiary of a 5 -day Trainer of Trainees (ToTs) activity under Peace Initiative Kenya (PIK) Project held in November 2012. A total of 25 participants were trained on community facilitation of peace and gender based violence awareness campaign forums.

Mr Chepsiror is a native of Kaptich location, within the larger Uasin Gishu County. He is one of the 28 Chiefs in Mosop constituency and what makes him standout is his passion for a peaceful society free from all forms of gender based violence.

Before the 2013 general elections, Mr. Chepsiror mobilized and facilitated a total of four community peace forums in his location under Rural Women Peace Link (RWPL), a PIK partner organization. “I attest that the community forums greatly contributed to the peaceful outcome we had in this region during the March 4th 2013 elections,” says the Chief confidently.

He further adds that two more community forums were held after the elections and that Chief Simon Chepsiror the forums were specifically tailored to address increasing cases of suicide arising out of gender based violence in his location.

“Close to 5 years ago emerged a trend of suicide deaths among young married men in Nandi North region.

A month or two could not pass without news of such deaths,” says the chief who adds that issues of wife battering, rape and defilement also kept rising by each day. There were also high reports of broken marriages as well as young girls dropping out of school. These calamities were very worrisome. For quite some time, my fellow chiefs and I intervened to stop the recurrent situations but nothing changed.”

Despite this, Chief Chepsiror’s zeal to help his people was still strong. Being a chief for close to 17 years, he knew doing nothing about the situation was not an option. He therefore convened a meeting that constituted 100 community elders and they all came to an agreement that two separate community forums (one for men and the other for women) should be held to address the bizarre happenings. These forums were the ones held after the March 4th 2013 elections.

The 1st community forum to be held was a women only forum and the turnout was massive. The facilitators were also women, Mary Chepkwony and Irene Magut, both officials of RWPL. The chief was seen only on two occasions- at the beginning and tail end of the forum- to allow the women to Page 10

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open up and talk freely about issues affecting them. The forum took four hours in which women were trained on the need to maintain peace, how to take care of their families, importance of educating their children and issues of GBV. According to the chief, the forum was an eye opener to the women of Nandi North region; “They confessed that the forum helped them realize they should not burry their heads in the sand but instead, handle the problems facing them headon.”

The 2nd community forum was also well attended. Men of all ages turned up including those of 100 years old and above. The session was facilitated by Chief Chepsiror and retired Justice Tanui. In the meeting, elders expressed their views about the situation. The young men also spoke out and even confessed why they were committing suicide. “Constant abuse of drugs and alcohol made them lose their manhood. As a result, wives left them and returned to their parents homes. The fear of their wives telling out their disability to parents, relatives and friends left them without a choice but suicide,” explains the Chief.

During this session, men were taught on the importance of maintaining peace, the need to take care of their families and warned against being perpetrators of GBV. They were also urged to seek psychological and legal help in the case of family problems. By the end of the forum, a committee was selected to spearhead such a meeting on a monthly basis as proposed by the men.

“The forums were a success. It is now six months since the elections and no suicide cases have been reported. Most wives returned to their marital homes and girls have reported back to school. Cases of GBV have also reduced drastically,” confirms chief Chepsiror.

Future Plans In coming days, the chief is planning for a girls training, targeting the ages of eight to eighteen that will take place in October. Female counselors will be teaching the girls on the importance of education and issues of GBV, including what to do in the case of rape. Likewise, another meeting for boys will also be held. “Afterwards, we will bring both the girls and boys together in one meeting to counsel them. We will also have a couple’s training on how to deal with family problems,” says the Chief.

Above left: Chief talking to a community elder and Shaban Varajab of RWPL. Center: Chief on his motorcycle which he uses to patrol his constituency. Right: Chief during the interview.

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IRC and RWPL marks the 2013 day of peace in Eldoret town International Day of Peace, also referred to as World Peace Day, is commemorated annually on 21 September. On this day, citizens from all walks of life worldwide, come together and encourage each other to contribute in making sustainable peace a reality.

As the world was marking this year’s peace day, Kenya was hit by a misfortune when armed gunmen unleashed terror on the public at Westgate shopping mall. The terrorist struck at midday same time that the Peace Initiative Kenya (PIK) Project partner; Rural Women Peace Link (RWPL) was observing a moment of silence to mark the world peace day in Eldoret town.

“The theme for the 2013 World Peace Day celebration is Education for Peace which lays an emphasis on the need for education and public awareness on conflict and peace issues,” said Shaban Varajab (RWPL).

The first activity for the day

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was a 5Kilometer ‘Peace March’ from Huruma estate play ground to Nandi gardens in Eldoret town which was flagged off by the area Chief Philemon Chumba. Other activities held on this day were street theatre, film show, games, reciting of poems on peace, dances and tree planting.

“We are not just saying we maintain peace by word of mouth, but also by our actions and deeds. As peace agents, we stand for a non-violent movement in our county and country as a whole,” said Mary Chepkwony (RWPL) when she addressed participants at the Nandi gardens during an open discussion forum that reviewed how the March 4th 2013 polls took place

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Above: Participants at the procession held in Eldoret town to mark the International Day of Peace on September 21st 2013 march to the stadium. Below: Participants prepare to set off.

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peacefully. Mrs. Chepkwony also noted that cases of sexual and gender based violence were still rampant and that in order to attain a sustainable peace in Kenya, such violence must be stopped.

Why Celebration were held in Eldoret With the International Criminal Court (ICC) cases still ongoing at The Hague, reports of the identities of the witnesses being revealed and subsequent issuing of an arrest warrant for a local journalist were being treated as conflict indicators. The locals who largely constitute of Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities remain skeptical of each other and revealing of the identities of the witnesses may end up jeopardizing the prevailing peace.

That is why PIK joined RWPL in marking the international Day of Peace in Eldoret as it is considered to be a conflict hotspot with gaping history of conflicts.

“I appeal to all Kenyan especially the youth, to let The Hague issue be dealt with through a court process and the decision by the court not to divide us in any way. We can only wait PEACE INITIATIVE KENYA

and pray for those who are affected; what we want is for peace to prevail,” said Fred Yego from Wareng’ Youth Initiative for Development and Peace

On this page, we present a compilation of photos from the International Day of Peace celebrations that were marked on September 21st 2013 in Eldoret town.

Government By the end of the day, participants had been educated on what their future roles were in ensuring security and peace is maintained. Government officials also shed some light on what measures they have put in place to ensure that peace and security is sustained in Uasin Gishu County regardless of the Hague outcome.

“We cannot have development without peace; and in order for peace to prevail, we need to work together. Therefore, leaders of this country should stop dividing Kenyan on the basis of ethnicity and hate speech and instead work together to ensure that sustainable peace is maintained,” said Daisy Kosgei from the USAID funded Yes Youth Can Project.

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The photos range from procession, media interviews, speeches, sports, the audience, artistic performances and entertainment. Photos by Valine Moraa and Daniel Were

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PEACE INITIATIVE KENYA

A short message on Peace We cannot ride the road to lasting peace On an endless cycle of violence and vengeance Nor can we travel alone.

As we walk that path together We must take time to fill in all the holes and gaps And remove the obstacles left by previous travelers Lest those who come after us stumble and fall.

And with humility and faith in the Prince of Peace Let us once and for all utterly destroy our enemies Through the power of forgiveness By turning them into friends For only then will we have finally arrived.

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PIK Campaign at its Peak: October 2013

Volume 1, Issue 3

PEACE INITIATIVE KENYA

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.