Death to Gender Violence

“Sexual, racial, gender violence and other forms of discrimination and violence in a culture cannot be eliminated without changing culture.”

Charlotte Bunch

Rape threat stalks Kenya's slums. Worrying trend of gang rapes in Kenya.
These are just two of the numerous headlines that are constantly captured in the media on rape and gender violence. A small voice representing this terrible scourge plaguing our society. Please, dear reader, take a moment to read the two stories on the two sites. Is it that we are void of any emotion and can attack one another in the most brutal of ways such as this? Is our humanity and basic concern for one another dead within us? Charlotte Bunch was spot on when she said that we cannot eliminate gender violence without changing culture.
Tina and Tim had been dating for seven and a half years. They had a beautiful daughter, Noni, named after Tim's mother. When Tina told Tim that she got was pregnant, five years ago, we all thought that this was the end of them. Shock on us when Tim stood by her side and supported her through out the pregnancy and even after Noni was born. We all were envious of Tina and hoped and prayed fervently that we each would get a man like Tim. Now, they were planning their wedding and we all chipped in, hoping to make it a huge success. No one was deserving of a happy story like they were.
Two years into the marriage it began to crumble. Tim took up drinking, smoking, and had frequent extra-marital affairs. He even began to beat Tina, blaming her for the course of his life. I do not know the full story, but I can tell you that Tina is back at her parents house, two children, a miscarriage, a divorce and scarred heart later.
As a volunteer with an NGO in Nairobi, I had the opportunity to interact with many children that were less privileged than I was. I heard many nightmarish stories from our social workers about the abuse the children we worked with endured, but the one that took the cream was the story of one of the most beautiful children I have seen called Halima.
Halima was six years old at this point in time. Small in stature for her age, she made up for it by being very active and boisterous. She had limpid brown eyes that seem to reflect their depth. One could drown in those eyes. One day Halima did not come to class. Unfortunately, in this slum this was the norm and was no cause for worry. However, after three days of being a no-show, the social workers went to visit the family and inquire why Halima had not been to school.
Several hours later the social workers trudged in, and one of them was carrying the little girl in his arms. Amidst the flurry of activity in trying to get an ambulance to rush her to hospital, the social worker explained to me that the slum dwellers had heard her father, brother and uncle come into her mother's house and forcibly kicked her out, then proceeded to rape Halima. No one knows how long the ordeal lasted, but the effects were clear to be seen. Halima, in three days, had been reduced to a shadow of her former self and had refused to talk. To date the memory of that little girl sitting in the office breaks my heart.
Change is now. Change is over-due. This kind of violence has no place in our society.

If you are interested in making your mark, however small, please get in touch with Muthoni and Gathoni of Kimbilio Gender Violence Hotline through their email addresses: muthoni@kimbilio.or.ke and gathoni@kimbilio.or.ke

Alternatively, you could do one or more of the following:
1. Please tell people about the Kimbilio Gender Violence hotline. The number is 0 800 720 072. The service is free, confidential and anonymous so people should feel safe utilizing it.
2. Kimbilio will be receiving a monthly bill from Safaricom for all the calls received. Whatever you can pledge to help defray this cost would be greatly appreciated.
3. Volunteer! If you can commit a few hours a month you can volunteer at the hotline or assist in the various administrative tasks that Kimbilio requires assistance in.