Jane Godia

Eleven years ago, Ms Agnes Siyankoi, a Maasai woman from Kajiado broke cultural barriers by suing her husband for domestic violence. Siyankoi, then 32 and a mother of four told the court how she had been battered all through her 12-year-marriage. She said her husband had beaten her, injuring her back, elbow, collarbone and legs. Her lawyer said her husband strangled her on many occasions.

The Judge, in deciding the case ruled that her husband was a first time offender — since it was the first time he was being accused of battering his wife. He sentenced the man to a six-month jail term or an alternative of paying a Sh5,000 fine.

Her dirty linen?

Many people accused Siyankoi of laundering her dirty linen in public. Then domestic violence was left to the bedrooms.

Nominated MP, Millie Odhiambo, the lawyer that stood up for Siyankoi during her historic case, says violence against women will continue as long as it is treated as a private matter that should not be brought out into the public.

"In the past, domestic was treated as a private issue that should not be made public no matter what," Odhiambo says. This was the case not only in Kenya but also internationally. It was not until 1992 during the United Nations Vienna Congress that the world came out in full force to declare violence against women a serious issue.

Before 1975, domestic violence was treated as a moral family issue and because of this, women continued to suffer in silence.

Nominated MP, Millie Odhiambo believes there can only be an end to violence against women if men are involved as change agents. [Photo from file]

"While society expects the woman to be silent, domestic violence in every sense is a violation of women’s rights no matter what form it takes," says Odhiambo, adding: "Be it battering, Female Genital Mutilation, rape or psychological trauma. And under the law, violence against women is criminal."

Since it was recognised as an abuse of human rights in 1992, there are many treaties that have been ratified. Many countries are now ready to offer political asylum to women who are suffering from any form of violence.

Tomorrow, the world marks International Women’s Day, a time when women and men come together to highlight women’s achievements. The rallying call this year for an end to discrimination, gender violence, and other human rights abuses.

All must join in

This year’s theme, working with men and women to end violence against women is, therefore, most appropriate. "To bring an end to violence against women, every State must deal with the issue," says the nominated MP. "It’s only then that we can bring it to an end or else it would be a useless war."

Odhiambo, who as a student wrote, directed and acted the lead role in a play, Domestic Violence, says violence against women is like an amoeba that must be tackled from all fronts.

"Whenever a woman cries out for help, she has to be taken seriously and this can only be done if everybody comes out at the forefront in this fight," Odhiambo elaborates. "We have to find a way of dealing with violence against women collectively by working with both young and old men."

In what she calls a paradigm shift in change of attitude, Odhiambo says: "We must woo and mete out punishment at the same time even as we sit around a negotiating table".

But getting men to work with women in ending violence is not going to be easy as men, young and old, beat up their wives or female partners.

Ms Rosemary Muganda, Executive Director of Centre for Adolescence Health, says working with men to end violence against women will only succeed if young men are involved at an early stage to appreciate and promote values that inculcate gender norms and attitudes.

"Young men must start seeing women as equal partners, as people with the same rights as them and who deserve to be treated with respect," Muganda says.

She wonders: "How come boys and girls grow up in the same village going through the same things yet when they become men they treat women as people of lesser value?"

Blame patriachy

These actions are all blamed on our patriarchal upbringing. Anne Njogu, Executive Director Centre of Rights Education and Awareness (Creaw), says it is unfortunate that we grow up in patriarchal society where men have been brought up to think it is right to fight or beat up women.

Among many programmes that are in place to end violence against women, is one that Creaw has been carrying out in Nairobi. "In this programme men learn that they are the ones who must create a safe environment for everyone because beating does not make a problem go away."

Njogu says they do a lot of counselling to men who have been found to be specifically violent. "They are made to understand the consequences of their actions and are put on anger management programmes that also help deconstruct their masculinity."

However, as Odhiambo says, "we can only work with men if they are treated as change agents to end violence against women".

Jane Godia is Deputy Managing Editor in charge of Magazines

jgodia@eastandard.net