The journey towards having gender based violence recognized as a significant threat to individuals ,families ,communities and our economy at large has been slow and arduous. While existing legislation such as the sexual offences Act and the Constitution expressly outlaw acts of sexual violence and prohibit cruel degrading treatment and discrimination on basis of gender, that is little consolation to the high number of women who continue to suffer physical ,psychological and economic abuse. To these women, the provisions of the law are abstract ideas which do not seem to be able to prevent and adequately respond to their plight.
Therefore when the first incident of stripping by Embassava touts occurred it was not a far cry to imagine that no action would be taken to bring the perpetrators to book. However this situation soon changed when my dress my choice campaign together with Centre for Rights Education and Awareness ( CREAW) supported by ordinary citizens took the streets to protest the assault. This led to the office of the then Police Commissioner Kimayo and Chief Justice Willy Mutunga committing to among other things, work towards strengthening mechanisms for prevention and response to gender based violence.
These were the same sentiments reiterated by the Chief Justice when he flagged off the inaugural 10km “genderthon” race held at Hospital Hill Primary school on December 14th 2014. The race organized by Centre for Rights Education and Awareness, the Africa Unite Kenya Chapter and Athletics Kenya , was also graced by the US Ambassador to Kenya Honourable Robert .F. Godec and Commissioner Winnie Lichuma Chairperson of the National Gender and Equality Commission.
The race whose mantra is “a billion reasons to run,a billon reasons to end gender based violence “ comes hot on the heels of two national campaigns launched to address gender based violence, the “He for She campaign launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta during the 16 days of activism and “Keeping the Promise “ campaign launched by the National Gender and Equality Commission whose aim is to reduce gender based violence through development and implementation of effective and efficient prevention and response strategies
With studies showing that 49% of women report having experienced violence in their lifetime and 83% of women and girls having reported one or more episodes of abuse in childhood, initiatives such as the “genderthon “ create unique possibilities for global awareness on gender based violence and a refreshing platform for both state and non state actors working on issues of gender based violence to critically reflect on what is working and what needs to be strengthened to effectively and efficiently address gender based violence.
Chief Justice Willy Mutunga reflected on these possibilities when he stated to those present at the “genderthon” that he had since forwarded the petition presented to him by CREAW and the my dress my choice campaign to the National Commission on Administration of Justice for action. He confirmed that the request in the petition for special courts to prosecute cases of gender based violence had been agreed upon and urged actors present to continue to pursue the same until the courts are set up supported by special gender police units and prosecutors
Ambassador Godec in his remarks denounced gender based violence in totality and said women and girls must have and enjoy equal rights and opportunities. He affirmed that US embassy continues to invest and support initiatives in Kenya that are committed towards ending gender based violence which is also a priority for the Obama Administration.
Ann Njogu CREAW’s chairperson of CREAW decried gender violence and urged those working around gender based violence to always look for creative ways to address GBV while also critically looking at the economic cost of gbv and what it means to a growing economy.
CREAW’s executive director Wangechi Wachira on her part explained that the “genderthon” is the start of what is a global movement to end gender based violence and will be a yearly event held to continue to break the silence around gender based violence with the proceeds going to prevention initiatives, supporting survivors of gender violence, strengthening multi sectoral response to gender violence and growing networks of male champions in Kenya
The inaugural genderthon race was won by Petronila Nduku and Hosea Nailel who clocked 34 minutes 39 seconds and 30 minutes 15 Seconds respectively.