Safe Refuge
Your tears that we didn’t see
a life that we didn’t know about
and now we know all the intricate details of who you are
where you lie
the ground that is now covered with flowers
those who knew you say that you showed no signs of pain
that you were happy
always giving, always there
caring, chairing and volunteering
selfless, they say
maybe you might want to know incarcerated is now his label
that the whole world knows what happened to you
that we mourn for you
but does it matter? you are gone
we didn’t do you justice
there were few places you could seek refuge
in your eyes, home was your refuge
children that you could not leave
silently persevering
daring life because yours was always a gamble.
Tomorrow is the last and 16th day of this #16days of activism campaign. The challenge of getting safe spaces for women in abusive relationships and marriages is a crisis that is in the country. One of the ways to solve the danger that women face (as we all seek to #endgbv), is to provide homes for them where they can rebuild their lives and work through the emotional trauma they face.
Faith Oneya in a Daily Nation article dated 9th December 2021 states that:
“Safe houses for GBV survivors are catered for in the law through Witness Protection Agency. Still, a request needs to be made by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation officer investigating the case.
Kenya currently has a two government-run safe houses in Makueni and Bungoma counties. This is 45 short of the target, as part of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s commitment in the Generation Equality Forum in Paris, in June 2021, was to have one in every county.
The law states that people under threat need to be protected. And there has been some progress made in this area, which will be expounded on later. Rebirth of a Queen is just one of the many organisations that are stepping in the gap left by the government. Others are Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW), Human Trafficking Trust East Africa, Undugu Society of Kenya, and Maisha Girls, among others.”
If you need or know someone who needs safe refuge, they can reach out to CREAW 0800–720–186| info@creaw.org or any of the above mentioned organisations- for support and referrals.
