17 years on: Kibra march honours survivors of election related violence

A group of community activists held a march in Kibra, Nairobi on Friday, calling for accountability and justice for victims of past election-related gender-based violence.

The March was led by some survivors of past election violence.

The theme of the March was 17 years on: Honoring survivors, demanding justice, and ending the cycle of election-related sexual violence. 

They marched through Kibra wearing matching t-shirts, which bore a uniform message 'Kila story ya survivor ni unique na Ina matter.'

They also held banners and placards bearing a related message that sought justice for those who have suffered under election-related sexual violence and a call to end the cycle of violence.

The survivors, the majority of whom were female victims of the 2007 post-election violence, narrated their experiences from physical torture, psychological, economic, and sexual violence.

They also demanded reparations on their part, as they emphasized the daily struggles they still grapple with more than a decade later.

"We are calling upon the government to speed up the reparation process to support the survivors and thereafter a need to stop the cycle of violence,’’ one of the survivors said.

 ‘’We have had cases of women who remain traumatized after their houses were robbed and they were defiled and later bore children.’’

 The survivor added that such cases had often created hostile relationships between the mother and children who remain conflicted on how they fit in.

Another female survivor explained her ordeal, where she failed to come to terms with the scars of having to live with HIV after facing sexual assault during the election period.

A male survivor also reiterated calls for the government to allocate resources for reparations that would support the groups.

 '’Reparations don’t necessarily come in the form of money. They also include providing counseling services and medical support, which can go a long way towards the journey to recovery,’’ he said.

The survivors further urged Kenyans not to be silent when the perpetrators engage in the heinous acts, adding that it would be a setback to end the cycle of gender-based violence.

They asked Kenyans to speak up.

"Silence provides perpetrators with a green light to violence; therefore, let's not be quiet to these injustices," one of the survivors said.

 One of the survivors advocated for more representation of women in legislative issues, adding that it would help address some of the grievances they are facing.

 Christine Owino of IPOA, who appeared on a live session, provided legal advise to survivors, urging them to always seek help immediately after the ordeal

 ‘’The first twenty hours are very important for forensic purposes to collect evidence, and therefore it is important to seek professional help immediately,’’ she said.

 She also pleaded with the community to desist from stigmatizing victims, as it tends to aggravate the survivors.

Among the community-led groups that participated in the event were the Utu Wetu, Grace Agenda and Feminists for peace, rights and justice centre

A section of leaders were also present, including Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) Officer Christine Owino and area Officer Commanding Station (OCS) James Mwita.

 The Kibra OCS also pledged to offer support to the victims while commending the gender 

''I came because I felt the gender-based organizations here are very strong, and we know the challenges that are there,’’ he said.

He asked Kenyans to help them in apprehending those who perpetrate these acts.