How Kwale is championing an end to gender-based violence

Justice for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence survivors is a multi-faceted and ongoing process.

The efforts are from family members, witnesses and gender police officers, to prosecution in a bid to access justice for the SGBV survivors.

Lobbyists in Kwale have intensified advocacy and awareness campaigns to educate the community on the prevalence of the crimes.

They have called upon survivors to gain courage amid pain and trauma to seek support from various security agencies.

Kwale is one of the counties at the forefront of championing an end to SGBV cases witnessed in parts of the county.

In 2013, Kwale drafted the Sexual Gender Based Violence to address the rising cases in the county.

The Bill was passed and it was launched in 2023 by Governor Fatuma Achani.

The Kwale County Sexual and Gender Based Violence Prevention Protection Act, 2023 aims to provide the legal framework for the protection of victims of Sexual and Gender-based violence within the County.

The Act establishes a clear reporting referral system for victims and witnesses of SGBV.

It eradicates conditions that worsen SGBV by promoting access to justice for victims and survivors.

The Act establishes an SGBV Sector Working Group based within the sub-county levels, safe houses and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Recovery Centers among others.

Through stakeholders, civil society groups, police and the judiciary, the survivors hope to get justice.

Kwale Gender Desk Police Officer Pauline Nalbega said their main aim is to help Sexual and Gender-Based Violence survivors access justice.

Nalbega said when an SGBV survivor goes to the station to report a case; they are directed to the gender desk located inside the station.

She said the process to acquire justice starts immediately after they report the case.

The gender police added that they record the statement and take the survivor to the hospital for examination.

She said the gender desk in Kwale records up to 25 cases in a month.

Nalbega, however, said most cases are recorded when the children open school after a holiday at home.

She said that under the gender desk, the police wear civilians so survivors to approach them without fear.

Nalbega added that they often get trained on how to handle the survivors of SGBV.

"The main challenge is when the survivors are taken from their homes to a far place after settling the cases through Kangaroo courts. This mostly happens when we have already investigated and they are needed in court," she said.

Nalbega added that to most survivors, the high level of poverty denies them a chance to get resources for following up their cases in courts.

She said that sometimes the perpetrators are given a minimum cash bail and are released to the community where they meet with survivors and convince them to withdraw the cases.

"Gender desk requires passion and selflessness and sometimes it pains me to see them struggle to get justice or when there is not enough evidence in some genuine cases," she added.

Head of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution Kwale County Rosemary Nandi said after conviction of cases the survivors are taken to probation officers to be placed in the rescue homes.

"Those in rescue homes are placed in schools depending on the directions of the probation officers and the children's department," she said.

She added that they work with the Judiciary which follows up on the welfare of the children after conviction.

"We have our magistrate court number two, she is called 'Mama Watoto' because she follows up with the children after conviction by going to their homes to assess the situation," she said.

Sauti ya Wanawake Kwale chairperson Mwanakombo Jarumani said the organisation has taken up advocacy campaigns to educate young girls on the dangers of SGBV.

She said the members have been trained on paralegal issues by Sauti ya Wanawake Kwale through the Equality Now organisation.

"We mostly do case follow-ups because we have been trained as paralegals and we also create awareness on Sexual Gender Based Violence, especially on referral pathways," she said.

Mwanakombo added that most cases remain unreported or if they are reported the evidence gets lost, which usually involves a lot of processes.

She said creating awareness on referral pathways will help rescue many girls and help them get justice.

The organisation also does school visits to teach them about the dangers of child marriage and early pregnancies and their responsibilities in society.

The Court Users Committee, she said has been crucial in handling victims of SGBV.

"Cases of early marriage in Kwale have reduced significantly if there is maybe one or two that are done secretly because we move I'm communities to make sure those who get married are of age. It is not done yet, but it has been reduced," she said.

Mwanakombo said they have so far rescued at least 60 girls in Matuga and Kinango constituencies.

The girls have been empowered to start various businesses to support themselves and their families.