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We concerned Kenyans comprising heads of Women leagues of political parties, Women aspirants, women MCA’s, parliamentarians, Center for rights Education and Awareness and the Women’s Movement under the auspices of the National Women’s Steering Committee condemn in the strongest terms possible all forms of violence against women and particularly the increasing violence that is being witnessed during the ongoing campaign period for ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

Violence within Kenya’s electoral process is one of the sad hallmarks of our electoral process and one that has seen the country teeter on the brink of destruction. This violence has been one of the major deterrents to female aspirants and female voters. Violence against women has also been used as a tool of terror against women who dare to seek elective public office. The Constitution of Kenya 2010 has resolved this issue by providing for the guarantee of equality in the political sphere, the continued refusal by the ruling political class to put in place a mechanism means that at every turn, women continue to fight against the grain in a male dominated political system. The flip side of this argument is that when women fail to get elected in enough numbers because the entire system undermines their aspirations and candidature, they are then accused of not doing enough to “get themselves elected”.
We have witnessed attacks against women aspirants such as the brutal attack on Eunice Wambui commonly known as Nyasuguta, an aspirant for the Embakasi South constituency, intimidation against Senator Naisola Lesouda which forced her to cut short her appearance on a local radio station in Samburu County, the brutal attack on Elizabeth Manyala MCA Kayole Central ward, Rosemary Ogutu MCA Siaya County who experience the most brutal and shameful form of cyber-attack on her person and reputation; several threats and intimidation aimed at deterring the aspirations of women candidates
These attacks limit women’s political participation and discourage them from exercising their rights, including their right to vote. Continuous alienation of women from political processes, by use of violence, undermines the democratic process at large.
As concerned women we stand in solidarity with all survivors of electoral violence and call on Kenyans to join us in breaking the silence against all forms of violence particularly violence against women in the political arena.
We also call upon our youth who are used to perpetrate these heinous acts of violence against women and other opponents to refuse to be engaged in such acts.
In a democratic Kenya where the rights of citizens are respected there is no room or place for violence against women in politics and we now urge all Kenyans to join us in demanding for the following;

THAT the Inspector General of Police immediately launches serious and credible investigations into the assault of Eunice Wambui, Elizabeth Manyala and Rosemary Ogutu and every other incident of violence against women in politics.
THAT the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions prosecutes to the fullest extent of the law, everyone involved in these assaults.
THAT the government through the relevant office put in place special measures such as increasing security as the aspirants continue in their campaigns. We are also calling on the IEBC to ensure that they enforce the elections code of conduct in its fullness. We are also calling upon the Inspector General of Police to have a special unit in place to deal with crimes perpetrated during this electoral season and for proper investigations to be carried out and ask also that the Director of Public Prosecutions puts in place special prosecutors on electoral gender based violence cases to ensure expedient access to justice especially during this electoral season.
THAT the Chief Justice together with all relevant arms of the government of Kenya recognize that electoral violence is a blight on this nation and proceed to set up special courts to prosecute cases of electoral violence and in particular gender based electoral violence.
THAT the Independent Boundaries and Elections Commission (IEBC) addresses the issue of Violence against Women and ensures that known perpetrators are barred from running for election
THAT Political parties in Kenya sign a pledge that opposes all forms of violence and intimidation against women seeking political positions within their parties and bar aspirants that are known to be perpetrators of violence against women from party positions

We finally ask that all Kenyans continue to hold sacred the rights provided by our Constitution and speak out against electoral based gender based violence whenever and wherever it occurs. We must all assume responsibility to end all forms of violence in politics and especially violence against women and refuse to be used by crude politicians to carry out the vice. That we will come out to strongly condemn such acts whenever they arise.

Tens of children across the country are still suffering horrific sexual abuse, but their attackers are roaming free because of hurdles placed on the road to justice.

Investigations by the Saturday Nation show that the children aged between two and 12 are more likely to be attacked by their next door neighbours, house helps, or in some cases, their own parents.

Delegation from Finland joins Kibera women and children in painting a mural depicting the support provided to survivors of Gender Based Violence.
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K4D_6587 — Embassy of Finland in Nairobi – Suomen suurlähetystö Nairobi Ambassador Tarja Fernández receives a painting from a survivor of Gender Based Violence at Kibera.

K4D_6527 — Finland Minister for Development, Mr. Kai Mykkänen painting a mural in Olympic Primary School Kibera against Gender Based Violence. — at Kibera.

K4D_6565 — Finland Minister for Development, Mr. Kai Mykkänen receives a painting from Kibera Assistant County Commissioner Said Mwamzungu — at Kibera.

Narok Governor H.E. Hon Samuel Kuntai Ole Tunai pledging to “Keeping the promise campaign” that he will address Gender Based Violence in Narok County with the support of The National Gender and Equality Commission-Kenya, Comic Relief, Christian Aid

Keeping the promise campaign launches in Narok County

14980648_1486526158030988_7263479531581497283_n — Keeping the Promise Stakeholders group photo. From Right to Left: Head of Programme Access to Justice Angelina Cikanda, Fred Lumiti, Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at Natinal Gender and Equality Commission, Exectutive Director Bora Katelo at The National Gender and Equality Commission-Kenya,Executive Director Leah Wangechi at Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW), Narok Governor H.E Hon Samuel Kuntai Ole Tunai, Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Programme Officer William Mbanyamlenge and Narok County Goverment, NCH Chief Officer Jane Psiwa — at Narok Town, Narok County.

14908309_1486525868031017_4654592140818665760_n — Narok Governor H.E Samuel Kuntai Ole Tunai and Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW) Executive Director Leah Wangechi after meeting the Narok County Governor during the signing of the pledge of Keeping the promise. — at Narok Town, Narok County.

14937287_1486525771364360_5497493740806180551_n — The Narok Gover H.E. Samuel Kuntai Ole Tunai committing through after signing the “Keeping The Promise” Certificate in Narok County The National Gender and Equality Commission-Kenya Executive Director Bora Katelo — at Narok Town, Narok County.

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An agreement with Her Excellency Ambassador Ferdandez (Embassy of Finland in Nairobi)and Executive Director Wangechi W. Moegi to improve access to justice for women and girls survivors of Gender based Violence in Kibera and its environs for the next 2 years.
With this support Centre for Rights Education and Awareness – Kibera office will continue to provide Legal aid, psychological support, and engage in community dialogues to discuss violence against women and girls.

In Kenya, one indicator of gender inequality is the small number of women in decision making positions and other national governance structures. Following the March 4th 2013 General elections, at the county level only 82 women out the total 1,450 County Assembly Ward Representatives were elected and only 6 women were successful in their bids as deputy governors. This despite the constitution stating that that one gender cannot make up more than two-thirds of the members of elective public

Training by Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW) supported by Forum Syd Kenya in actualizing the 2/3 gender principle, the best solution is to have more women seek to be elected and therefore increase the chances of having more women in influential positions. For this to happen women have to be facilitated with knowledge skills and where possible resources to run strong campaigns.

Women’s issues continue to matter now more than ever because a huge gender gap exists in many parts of the world today.
CAUGHT ON NEWS: Documentary on the Access to justice Programme that seeks to address issues with unequal access to justice through various strategies e.g. Legal representation, capacity building of community members, working through smart networks and partnering with #‎GBV (Gender Based Violence) service providers.
#‎IamTheSolution #‎SolutionsBaraBarani #‎WomenEmpowerment #‎AccessToJustice

As part of our journey to achieving our vision, we have recently acquired new talent to join our board of directors to ensure the organization’s work continues to benefit from the skills, competencies and passion that the board members (Rukia Yassin Männikkö, Justus Nyang’aya, Samuel Gichohi, Hon. Justice Joel Ngugi, Professor Wambui Mwangi, Clement Mwangi, Esther Mwaura) bring to the work of CREAW.