A campaign to address rising cases of sexual and gender-based violence in higher learning institutions has been launched.
The Safer Campuses Campaign has been launched in campuses across the country by Unesco under the Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future Plus (O3PLUS) project.
The programme is being implemented in partnership with the Kenya Medical Training College and the University of Nairobi.
It seeks to empower young people to achieve positive health, education and gender equality.
So far, the campaign has been launched in three KMTC campuses and eight UoN campuses in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu counties.
Unesco East Africa education chief Lamin Sow said the initiative also seeks to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS.
“The UoN and KMTC initiatives include the establishment of gender desks and wellness centres. These are exemplary efforts that demonstrate how collaborative actions can significantly reduce HIV infections, unintended pregnancies and gender-based violence,” Sow said.
He spoke on Friday during the launch of the campaign in Mombasa.
The launch also marked the beginning of activities leading to the annual 16 Days of Activism Against, observed from November 25 to December 10.
“Today’s event also inaugurates a youth-friendly space for students at KMTC Mombasa campus. This safe space will provide access to sexual and reproductive health, GBV and mental health support services,” Sow said.
“The Mombasa campus now joins the University of Nairobi in championing for this transformative initiative, which we hope will serve as a model for other institutions.”
KMTC and UoN students marched from Mombasa town to the KMTC campus near Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital during the launch.
“These cities were chosen based on data and evidence. A situational study conducted before the programme’s implementation reviewed statistics and existing data, which revealed the highest prevalence of GBV in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu,” Sow said.
He said higher learning institutions will ensure the programme’s sustainability.
“By institutionalising these initiatives and building capacities of universities, we aim to ensure these efforts endure beyond the project’s lifespan,” Sow said.
KMTC Mombasa Campus Principal Jacinta Mukonzo said there is urgent need to challenge societal norms that normalise violence against women.
“In our society, it is often seen as ‘normal’ for women to face violence.
Is that normal? We must challenge this perception and raise our voices against it.
Many of us have either experienced or witnessed GBV, yet we often turn a blind eye.
It’s time for action,” she said. Mukonzo highlighted the importance of creating actionable, measurable interventions such as the establishment of safe spaces.
“A safe space means having a place where you can go when distressed, when you need to talk to someone, or when you need help. Our institution now provides such space,” she said.
The principal pledged her commitment to ensuring no one feels unsafe.
UoN Mombasa Campus director Prof Sarah Kinyanjui underscored the collective responsibility of addressing GBV.
“GBV can affect anyone — it could happen to you or
your family,” she said
