When help came for rape victims

By Anderson Ojwang

Women in Mt Elgon District go on with life like every other rural woman. They tend their farm and animals and look after their families.

If you meet and greet them, they will respond with a motherly smile and assure you everything is all right.

But for many of these women, there is nothing to smile about really and everything is not all right.

Hundreds of women in this district live with a secret they won’t tell to the world or their husbands. Behind that motherly smile are trauma and dread and suicidal feelings. And many have given up on ever enjoying truly, the little blessings life throws at us, as they did four years ago.

"Some of us could not carry on with life and they opted for death. They committed suicide," says one woman.

Cultural norms

It started three years ago when their sons, brothers and husbands, who allegedly came together to protect their land, turned against them. In their wake, the Sabaot Land Defence Force (SLDF) roamed the region desecrating women and girls with impunity.

As if this was not enough, the security personnel who came to save them from such torture also allegedly raped many of the women — the militia had already raped some of the women.

For the last three years, no one seemed to notice the plight of these women. There have only been blame and denial in the media over the issue with everyone trying to "prove that no woman was raped".

Sadly, these women could also not confide in their husbands and family for cultural norms would immediately be applied against them. Their cross was their problem alone.

But recently, 52 women embarked on a journey to Keiyo District when they got news of a medical camp that would cater for their needs.

Three organisations had at last heard their cry and responded. The Nairobi Women’s Hospital, Urgent Action Fund and the Rural Women Peace Link set up a medical camp in Keiyo to give back hope to these women.

Poverty levels

This was the first time since they were raped, by either the militia, since 2006, or security agents in 2008, that they had access to medical care.

Executive Director of Urgent Action Fund Jessica Nkuuhe says cultural dictates that if a women is raped the husband stops being sexually engaged with her also discouraged many women from seeking medical attention.

She said: "Because of high poverty levels, ignorance and trauma, most of them could not access medical care and that is why the three organisations teamed up to assist them reconstruct their lives."

Serious injuries

The camp lasted three days and included counselling, psychosocial care, treatment and provision of voluntary testing and counselling services.

Dr Omondi Wasunna of Nairobi Women’s Hospital says some women had serious injuries resulting from the rape, which included hanging uterus and accumulated fluid. Several women had also been infected with HIV but did not know their status until then.

Omondi said: "There is a lot of inbuilt hurt. They have kept a lot of secrets and pain to themselves and during the counselling session they were able to speak out and feel relieved."

Pain and trauma

He says the medical camp looked at the holistic approach and did all it could to give hope to the women. "We came also to treat the heart so they can feel happy again," he said.

The camp was a success even though majority of the women who need care are still holed up in the villages. The fact that the 52 attended was great news to the organisations.

Ms Philis Samson from Rural Women Peace Link says it was hard convincing the victims to open up and agree to go for treatment because of the entrenched cultural norms.

"The women have lived with pain and trauma of sexual violation and it was impacting negatively on their lives and psychological stability," Philis says.

But those who attended are glad they did.

Hope in life

A 72-year-old grandmother said: "We did not know what to do and we decided to die in silence. There are no hospitals and poverty made it worse. But now we are happy to have been treated and we hope to live in peace."

Another woman said the experience was harrowing and they are lucky to have survived.

"We are going to talk to other women and convince them to seek treatment. This is the only we can regain our confidence and hope in life," she said.

Will continue

Vicky Karemi, a programme officer with Urgent Action Fund says they will continue to partner to help other women in conflict areas.

"The medical camp was a milestone not only for the rape victims but also for the medical personnel, counsellors and facilitators of the event," Karemi said.

 

 

Read all about: rape SLDF Matakwei

 

 

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