- It was in 2019 that these women, initially strangers from different areas of Manyatta, first came together.
- She said during the Covid-19 pandemic, KMET encouraged them to think beyond survival and think of economic empowerment.
Image: STAR ILLUSTRATED
In the heart of Manyatta slums in Kisumu, a group of women who once faced unspeakable ordeals during Kenya’s 2007 post-election violence are now beacons of hope.
The women, who united under the Society of Women Empowerment Network (SWEN), have not only healed but also rebuilt their lives.
It was in 2019 that these women, initially strangers from different areas of Manyatta, first came together.
Their paths crossed during a programme aimed at identifying survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in slums during post-election violence.
They came together with the scars and through their shared experiences, they bonded. The emotional toil was heavy for some.
They started as a group of 30 but some were not ready to confront their past, and when they started opening up, some found it difficult to speak out and left.
Eventually, 10 women remained to walk the path of healing together.
In 2022, the group faced a significant setback when the then chairperson died, but her daughter-in-law stepped in to ensure continuity.
Current chairperson Mary Atieno said the turning point came when Kisumu Medical and Education Trust (KMET) organised exchange visits and helped them start group businesses.
What started as a simple gathering to share their pain and ordeal, transformed into a positive session.
From the training they started income generating activities to support their families.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, KMET encouraged them to think beyond survival and think of economic empowerment.
The chairperson said they provided funds to the members to start small businesses, which was a crucial step in ensuring they sustain themselves.
Equality Now, an organisation that advocates the rights of women and girls, trained and gave them funds for businesses and personal needs.
Today, Atieno said they make soap and mats, tailoring and beadwork.
They meet every Friday to make soap and share profits and save a portion in the group’s bank account.
Atieno said individuals members also have businesses on the side.
Beyond their economic activity, the women have become SGBV champions. They hold community talks, particularly with young girls.
One member, DS, recalled how she once thought her life had come to an end after she was raped by two men. She became pregnant from the ordeal.
Today, she walks with her head high, proud of her journey and the community she has helped create.
“My baby has grown up. I struggled with the trauma but I met women with the same predicament and we shared our experiences. We are now champions,” she said.
She said some group members are widows, while others have remarried and are living their lives to the fullest.
SWEN has established an early childhood development centre for the community. Orphaned children do not pay school fees.
KMET policy and advocacy lead Sharon Amindi said they have walked with the women in their recovery journey and given them financial literacy lessons so they can start their own businesses.
She said through awareness, the women are more open to speak on SGVB issues and have become champions in the county.
Equality Now programme officer Nina Masore said when they started the project in Kisumu in 2019, they encountered survivors who had gone through sexual violence during 2007-08 and 2013 post-election violence.
Many of these women come from vulnerable backgrounds and were ostracised by their families and the community.
“In addition to this stigma, they carried the trauma of the violations years later and had low self-esteem and little hope in life, since they felt everybody from their families, neighbours, police and criminal justice actors had failed them,” Masore said.
In partnership with KMET, Masore said they were counselled and started healing.
Some became champions and they speak out on SGBV in their communities. They encourage women to report violations.
“We tried to follow up their cases, some of which had been reported at police stations, but most were dead ends. We had an empowered group of survivors, who were change agents, but they were still vulnerable and in dire economic situations,” Masore said.
They trained the women on entrepreneurship, bookkeeping, business development and other technical skills.
“They have been invited to showcase their wares in national and regional expos. In addition to their economic empowerment, they have strengthened resilience and are empowered,” Masore said.
It has become clear SGBV and women’s economic empowerment (WEE) are interlinked.
She said to create an environment where the dignity, health, rights and well-being of women can thrive, it is essential to have interventions and programming that address the complexities that exist between WEE and SGBV.
Effective policies and institutional frameworks are essential for addressing this link, including legal protection against discrimination, access to justice and support services tailored to the economic needs of survivors.