Peace Initiative Kenya
ESS C C U PIK S RY STO
Turning the tide on Gender Based Violence from the pulpit: Pastor Job Odindo’s Story
In rural Ahero, Kisumu County, Pastor Job Odindo not only uses his vocational platform to preach the gospel but also advocates against gender based violence in the community. Community members know well that they can trust him to help when faced with domestic violence and defilement of children. Pastor Odindo is also a trained counselor and a community activist. His interest to address gender based violence in the community was kindled by the continuous violation against women and girls that he witnessed in the villages. “I come from the Luo ethnic group; and like other ethnic groups in Kenya our cultural beliefs condone wife battering as a corrective measure to punish wrong-doing by women. In my childhood, my father was also violent to my mother and so was my elder brother to his two wives. Such experiences from my own family prompted me to want to take action to reverse the vice. I focus on empowering the congregation at Miracle Victory Church as well as community members on Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response. I inform them on the different forms of GBV including physical, psychological and sexual abuse and the measures to take when such violations occur such as medical, physiological and legal support,” he says. Akello (not her real name) has Pastor Odindo to thank for her safety and the peace of mind she enjoys alongside her two daughters. Akello had undergone continuous physical and verbal abuse in the hands of her alcoholic husband. “My husband of 15 years would come home drunk and beat me up in front of my children. Often, he took pleasure in beating me just because I was his wife and at times, the violence was fuelled by the fact that I did not have a son. He often would kick us out of the house forcing us to run to friends and family members for refuge,” she says. When Akello sought help, the Pastor also reached out to her husband and provided family counseling. Akello’s husband however, did not refrained from the violence and this prompted her to take legal action. “The mag-
istrate hearing the matter also tried to reconcile us in the court at my husband’s expression of remorse and willingness to stop the violence, which I accepted. He was warned against the abuse, failure to which the matter would be re-opened. Since then, has never physically or verbally abusive me or the children and we have lived peacefully as a family. My husband also takes Pastor Odindo’s counsel seriously and acknowledges his role in bringing sanity in our lives” Akello notes. “We hold monthly pastors’ caucus meeting which is an avenue I use to also sensitize and empower fellow pastors from other churches within the community on how they can address GBV,” says Pastor Odindi. As a result, they have always consulted with him when faced with such cases, and often invite him to minister to their congregation on matters concerning gender based violence. Pastor Odindo, who is also the Nyando sub-county coordinator for Peace Initiative Kenya (PIK) project, notes that the church plays an important role in preventing and responding to violence including GBV. This is because whenever a family or community members have disputes, the church is often among the first institutions to be approached to provide solution. “The PIK project has been instrumental in working with various stakeholders include religious leaders to end GBV and promote peace,” he notes.
Pastor Job Odindo at his church in Kisumu
Pastor Odindo is a beneficiary of three separate training workshops carried out by the PIK project of the USAID and International Rescue Committee (IRC). The workshops addressed on community facilitation of peace and gender based violence awareness campaign forums, community mobilization strategy using the Start Awareness Support Action (SASA!) model, as well as emergency response and preparedness. “I use the knowledge gained from these workshops to address conflicts in the community and while advocating against GBV,” he says.