Exploring the intervention efforts in helping women survivors of sexual violence in the aftermath of the 2007/2008 post- election violence in Kisumu county, Kenya.
Loading...
Date
2018
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
During Kenya’s 2007/08 post-election violence, sexual violence in form of single and gang
rape was rampant with women bearing the brunt of it. The deteriorating levels of insecurity
not only in Kisumu but in other parts of the country that witnessed intense violence and the
inability to access support services worsened the experiences of the women who had suffered
sexual violence. Many women endured immense pain as the physical, psycho-logical and
socio-economic effects of the violence took a toll on them. As a result, the government and
other stakeholders initiated several interventions with a view to alleviate the suffering that the
female survivors of sexual violence had experienced. This study aims at exploring the
intervention initiatives that were put in place to address the needs of the female survivors of
sexual violence in Kisumu County. Even though research on intervention strategies for
female survivors of sexual violence during and after conflict has been widely researched in
countries that have experienced conflict, in Kenya, it remains under-researched. In this
regard, the study utilized qualitative research methodology in order to explore the
effectiveness of the intervention strategies by relying heavily on the perspectives of the
female survivors of sexual violence as well as other key informants. Thirty- five women
participants (survivors of sexual violence) were interviewed as well as nine key informants
who were exclusive of the thirty primary participants.
The study examined how the women traversed through the various agencies in order to access
the support services made to address their needs and the challenges they encountered during
this process. It also examined the challenges faced by the various actors in offering support to
the women, how they countered them as well as the inter-linkages that existed among them.
Three theories were employed in this study: the feminist theory of rape, the conflict
transformation approach and the socio-ecological model of intervention. Key study findings
established are; as the women interacted with the formal support structures in finding help, in
some instances, they experienced positive reactions while in other circumstances, it was
adverse. However, despite the undesirable responses that they received, they were able to
adopt various coping mechanisms that helped them to remain robust. In the course of the
study, what was further established was that, sexual violence as was experienced by women
survivors in Kisumu County was rooted in inequality, discrimination and male domination
that was rooted and engrained in indigenous Kenya, was solidified during the colonial period
and transited through post-independent Kenya. Despite the intervention strategies initiated,
the female survivors of sexual violence perceive themselves as a neglected category by the
state whom they quantified should take the lead in addressing their plight.
Description
Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.