Peace Initiative Kenya WhatsApp comes in handy for Chief in the ES C C U PIK S RY STO
S
frontline of anti-GBV war
While in the past, most publicity in the Kenya media about chiefs and their assistants has been negative with gender based violence allegations ranging from sexual to physical assault, the story of Assistant Chief Tom Mboya of Kakmia location in Nyando, Kisumu County is not only refreshingly different but also one of innovation. Mboya uses social media platforms to advocate against GBV. “I formed a WhatsApp group and I have a twitter handle that I use to communicate against crimes in the community, including GBV. These platforms have also enabled me to sensitize and educate residents of my locality on the need to use legal process instead of settling cases through kangaroo courts (out of court settlement),” he says. Mboya has also been using his weekly community barazas (meetings) to demystify myths and misconceptions around GBV. Lamlowe FM, a local radio station in Kisumu County that has coverage in over 10 counties of Kenya, highlighted Mr. Mboya’s story of rescuing a child who had been defiled by a neighbor. In the radio interview Mboya underscored the importance of reporting gender based violence (GBV) and highlighted the services that survivors can access in different facilities. Through these efforts, Mboya envisions a society free of GBV, saying that he is addressing the vice by ensuring rape offenders and perpetrators of other forms of GBV are brought to book. He ensures due process of the law is followed and justice is served to survivors, their families and the community at large. Mboya notes that he cannot win the war on GBV alone and, therefore, works closely with the community. Caren Omanga, the Chairperson of the Nyabende Support Programmes, says that Mr. Mboya offers as good
example of committed community leadership that uses its authority to stamp out retrogressive practices as well as resolve conflicts. Caren further notes that the role of administrators as law-enforcer agents cannot be overemphasised when it comes to addressing Gender Based Violence. “Chiefs and their assistants are the first point of call as they are accessible, respected and legitimate members of government with the mandate to enforce laws and policies at the community level,” she says. Caren adds that, for example through the effort of Mr. Mboya, 3 sexual abuse cases, 6 domestic violence cases including land disputes and 2 early marriage cases were successfully prosecute between June and August 2015 alone,” states Omanga. In his capacity as an administrator, Mboya has been partnering with the Peace Initiative Kenya (PIK) project of the USAID and International Rescue Committee (IRC) to prevent and respond to Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the community. Through Nyabende Support Programmes, a community based organization that is supported by PIK project, Mboya has remained a reliable male champion for women’s rights and an agent of change in efforts to reverse the GBV trends in his county. Among the PIK training activities that Mboya participated was a stakeholders’ training on strengthening referral mechanisms of GBV cases as well as issues that cut across the rights of women and girls. “The training empowered me on issues related to GBV and also provided a platform for me to build community networks that have so far been effective in stemming the vice in my area of jurisdiction’’, concludes Mboya.
Assistant Chief Tom Otieno Mboya and Caren Omanga at his office in Kakmia in Nyando, Kisumu County