By Seliphar Machoni
Community members in Shinyalu, Kakamega County, declared they would defend the rights of
women, children and the elderly.
A section of the community made a public pronouncement at Shinyalu market that they will fight
and expose perpetrators of violence against children (VAC) – those impregnating teenagers and
promoting early marriages.
The public declaration follows an extensive empowerment program targeting leading members
of the community through the Together Empowering Society to Eliminate Abuse of Women and
Children (Tetea) project.
The project, undertaken by Kakamega County Widows Empowerment Project (KCWEP), in
partnership with the International Committee for the Development of Peoples (CISP), is meant to
create a cohesive and safe community for vulnerable groups.
KCWEP Tetea Project Coordinator Fred Anami asked community members to report abuse cases
to relevant authorities, including the local administration, for justice to prevail.
He said as partners in the Tetea project, they have graduated over 56 groups and eight
Community Dialogue Groups to champion discussion and action in ending teenage pregnancies,
early marriages and violence against children.
Anami said the partners also formed Child Rights Clubs in schools to empower children to speak
up when faced with challenges or abuse.
In addition to the Child Rights Clubs, KCWEP and CISP, implementing partners of the Tetea
Project in Kakamega, installed talk boxes to be used by students to write down the challenges
they are facing, whether at home or school.
According to the headteacher of Kisaina Comprehensive School Wilbroda Wesonga Lutomia,
Child Rights Clubs (CRC) and talk boxes have provided an alternative means for students to
communicate with the school administration regarding their concerns.
She said children in school are now sensitized through the CRCs and talk boxes to express
themselves openly and frankly.
“Through these talk boxes, we realized that the children are having some problems at school and
home, and we have been able to advise these children. We have even been able to counsel them
so that they can overcome the difficulties they have been experiencing both at school and home,”
she added.
She urged the government to adopt the project and roll it out in all schools since it has opened a
communication channel, making the teachers’ work simpler and enabling them to understand the
children they are dealing with.
“It has even made the work of us teachers easier because we understand our students and assist
them in challenges so they can continue their education,” she added.
A local pastor from Shinyalu, Elkana Amunya, said that following the project, men have
declared that they will support their women, sensitizing other men on women's rights to inherit
land and their role in offering them protection.
A youth, Lavin Bulimo, also a community dialogue leader of the Chevoso youth group, said she
noted a transformation in the community since they started engaging in dialogue sessions.
