By Seliphar Machoni
To tackle the underreported cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and teenage
pregnancies, a non-governmental organization in Kakamega County has unveiled the Women
Against Violence and Exploitation (WAVE) project.
The Rising to Greatness Organization launched the WAVE project, funded by the Netherlands
Embassy under the United Nations Programme. The initiative aims to implement accessible and
confidential mechanisms for reporting SGBV cases, provide legal and counselling services to
survivors, increase awareness about the importance of reporting these cases, collaborate with
local authorities to ensure proper handling and educate communities to prevent teenage
pregnancies and support young mothers.
Kakamega County has been grappling with high rates of SGBV and teenage pregnancies, which
experts say are driven by deep-seated cultural norms and a lack of accessible reporting
mechanisms. According to recent statistics, the county has a 21.9% rate of teenage pregnancies,
with Malava Sub-County leading at 26.8%.
Joy Nyangi, the project officer, speaking at the inception meeting, emphasized the initiative's
comprehensive approach to addressing these issues.
“We will educate the entire community, not just women, on where and how to report SGBV
cases, including the gender reporting desks in courts, and educate them on the case management
process. We will also address the issue of Kangaroo Courts, where many GBV cases are
mishandled. Furthermore, we will tackle rising teenage pregnancy cases and support young
mothers,” she said.
Yustin Ooko from the Rising to Greatness Organization highlighted the project's community-
focused strategy.
“The initiative contains a unit on educating the community on reporting cases of SGBV. Some
cases are reported, but reported late, making it hard for the survivor to get justice as required.
This initiative will sensitize the community on reporting these cases on time to avoid interference
from kangaroo courts. To accomplish this, we will use dialogue with the community,” he
explained.
Muna Mohammed from the CSO Network noted the challenges posed by societal patriarchy in
reporting SGBV.
“We are going to conduct community sensitization to encourage women and girls to report
SGBV cases without fear,” she said.
Esther Mboya, Gender-Based and Reproductive Health Coordinator for Kakamega County
expressed the county's readiness to collaborate with the organization. She pointed out that most
SGBV cases from the communities do not reach the courts.
“We aim to reduce SGBV and teenage pregnancy cases in Kakamega County, where the
numbers are high. Together with the organizations, we will sensitize the community on reporting
such cases and encourage women to speak out to prevent mental trauma,” she said.
Mboya also urged men to report any SGBV cases they face, challenging the norm that men
should not report such incidents.
“We are ready to support men who come forward. No one will laugh at you; we want a healthy
community,” she added.
Lucy Mulobi, Chairperson of People with Disabilities in Kakamega County, emphasized the
importance of including PWDs in the fight against SGBV.
“Many PWDs face SGBV but don’t know where or how to report it, especially in rural areas.
The deaf and dumb PWDs face significant challenges because they cannot express themselves
and may not be understood. Mentally challenged individuals are often ignored when reporting
such matters. Inclusive dialogue is the best way to address SGBV in the communities,” she
emphasized.
Catherine Osita, Step Up for Justice Project officer from Rural to Global Organization, which is
partnering with Rising to Greatness to implement the initiative, assured that the project would
ensure these cases are reported and justice is served.
“We aim to break the silence and dismantle the culture of impunity surrounding SGBV. For
example, cultures that force women into wife inheritance even when they are unwilling. We will
also focus on educational outreach to prevent teenage pregnancies,” she added.
