The Centre for Gender Equity and Empowerment in collaboration with Kenyatta University Gender Action Movement (KUGAM) organized to celebrate the 16 days of activism against gender based violence on Friday 25th November 2022 at BSSC room 14 from 10 am – 1pm.
This year’s theme was “UNITE! Activism to end violence against women and girls” and invites everyone to play their role in ending violence against women and girls, show support and solidarity to women’s rights activists.
1. Friday 25th November 2021 – Open discussion during the launch of 16 Gays of Activism against GBV at BSSC room 14
Prior to the talk, students went on a campaign walk, led by Dr. Okong’o, beginning at the KU main gate through the Shopping Centre, Bishop Square, Amphitheatre and ended at BSSC room 14. The walk was a peaceful protest against Sexual and Gender Based Violence at Kenyatta University.
The open discussion had five panelists namely;
1. Dr. Grace Okong’o - Department of Sociology, Gender and Development Studies
2. Mr. Richard Muchiri Njenga – Department of Sociology, Gender and Development Studies
3. Miss. Joan Wanjiru Gicu - Department of Sociology, Gender and Development Studies
4. Miss. Fancy Chepkoech – School of Public Health
5. Mr. Farren Kuindwa – Department of Early Childhood Education and Special Needs
Contextualizing GBV in Universities
Gender based violence is entrenched in the strong patriarchal ideologies of control and subordination of women and girls. Efforts to resists this has mostly been undertaken at individual level. As a result, GBV continues to thrive even in higher learning institutions. In universities, GBV can happen in the following context;
- Staff to student
- Student to staff
- Student to student
- Staff to staff
Dr. Okong’o noted that, GBV, whether physical or emotional, is all about POWER and CONTROL. In most cases, perpetrators have someone of influence and supremacy which they use to either manipulate or overpower their victims or survivors.
This power and control can be in terms of money, position of power (leader/boss), physical strength or gender power (either man or woman).
Perpetrators often use this power to threaten and silence their victims either through bribery or coercion and stops the survivors from reporting or pursuing the case against the offender. This gives more power to the offender and he/she keeps doing it to other people.
Further, it was noted that, acceptance of violence is very easy because most of the survivors do not know how to react to it. This is because most have accepted it as a way of conflict resolution as violence begins from families and society.
Prevention and Response to GBV
It was noted that; the prevention and response to GBV mechanisms are in place only that they do not work properly even at the national level. The systems need to be reformed and strengthened to operate better in prevention of and response to Gender Based Violence.
At Kenyatta University, the Vice Chancellor appointed a standing committee to be investigating Sexual Harassment (SH) and Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) cases. The committee comprises of staff from various critical sections that deals with students and staff with the following Terms of Reference:
a) Receive and investigate all cases of Sexual Harassment (SH) and Gender Based Violence (SGBV).
b) Ensure that all complains of SH and SGBV are investigated thoroughly and expeditiously.
c) Ensure that proper documentation of evidence is provided during investigations.
d) Evaluate the evidences and recommend appropriate actions to the Vice-Chancellor.
Way forward
Dr. Okong’o urged the participants to empower themselves with information and learn self-advocacy. In this way they will know;
a. What to do to avoid being a possible target
b. What to do in case one is attacked
c. What to do in cased one is harassed, assaulted or raped
d. Where to seek help (hospital, security, counseling)
Opportunities for joint advocacy can be done through the media, by strengthening the gender sector working groups, engaging men and boys in the fight against SGBV, engaging with GBV actors locally, nationally and internationally, supporting evidence based research on GBV to help influence policies and capacity building for the police on gender issues and equipping them with gender desks.
The Centre for Gender Equity and Empowerment will continue to advocate for gender mainstreaming through continued training and educating the University community (students and staff) on gender issues, prevention of and response to Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV).
The session concluded that activism against GBV should be a year round effort but not only celebrated during the 16 days of activism against GBV.
2.Sunday 4th December 2022 – Outreach campaign at Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) Evergreen, Runda
As part of community outreach to campaign against gender based violence, Prof. Wamue Ngare led a team of 31 students and 5 members of staff to worship at the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) Evergreen, Runda. She spoke to the youth. The service was from 9am – 12 noon.
During her talk at the church, Prof. Wamue-Ngare encouraged the young people to speak up against GBV, as a survivor or a witness. She emphasized that waiting is always fatal (death) and so is ignorance. Some of the most common manifestations of GBV are; physical beating, rape, verbal, mental and emotional abuse.
Therefore, it is important that people empower themselves with knowledge and economically to avoid relying on persons who will take advantage of them.
Further, she also informed the congregation the impacts of SGBV on the victims and survivors; death, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, self-harm and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Prof. Wamue-Ngare advised on what they should do collectively and as individuals in order to fight against gender based violence through; breaking the culture of silence and learn that NO is NO.
Students accompanied Prof. Wamue-Ngare (far left) for Outreach campaign at Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) Evergreen, Runda on Sunday 4th December 2022
3. Panelists spoke about Gender Based Violence on KUTV
To spread the message about Gender Based Violence, three speakers were sourced and appeared on KUTV morning show on 5th, 6th and 7th December 2022.
i. On 5th December 2022, Dr. Boniface Munene Rufo, Ass. Lecturer, Chuka University, Dept. of Social Sciences spoke about GBV from a male perspective.
ii. On 6th December 2022, Dr. Willy Mwangi, lecturer, Kenyatta University, Dept. of Sociology, Gender and Development Studies spoke about GBV in the work place.
iii. On 7th December 2022, Mr. Wesley Onyango, Chairperson, Kenyatta University Gender Action Movement (KUGAM) spoke about GBV among the youth.
In all there talks, they all agreed that, GBV begins from the core of the society, FAMILY. This creates a weak link in relationships and at the work place. Therefore, it is paramount to work on having stable homes/families first.
It was also noted that, it is of importance to include men in the talk of ending GBV. Men should be champions of GBV. They should be empowered with information about the dangers of GBV and its effects on their families and society. Additionally, men should be encouraged to speak up when GBV is perpetrated towards them. Men should be agents of change to end GBV.
