Last week, 35 GROOTS Kenya champions from Eastern Africa Grain Council brought together 40 industry players, 1500 farmers, and key stakeholders.
Baringo and Nakuru Counties participated in the Agri-Business Expo hosted at KALRO Njoro. Themed Climate Smart Technologies and Practices for Sustainable Food Systems, the event organized by theParticipants explored hands-on crop and livestock demonstration units, targeted business-to-business (B2B) meetings, tailored farmer training sessions, and stalls exhibiting high-tech and innovative machines. The hands-on training sessions in good agricultural practices and business management aimed to help farmers optimize their land use, improve crop yields, and embrace climate-smart technologies, all contributing to sustainable food systems.
Monica Keben, GROOTS Kenya's champion from Baringo, highlighted in her Citizen TV interview how the expo enabled her to connect with suppliers & trainers, learning innovative practices to improve her farming methods.
Nakuru County’s CECM of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives Mr. Leonard Bor during his keynote address emphasized the county's commitment to supporting smallholder farmers, aligning with the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) 2023-2027, which focuses on sustainable agricultural practices, market expansion, and value-addition opportunities for premium produce.
This collaboration is a step forward in promoting climate-smart agriculture and ensuring food security for generations to come.
Gender-based violence cases on the rise as Kiambu ranked 3rd after Nairobi and Kisumu.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p2uuv45JOs
https://taifaleo.nation.co.ke/habari-mseto/shirika-la-groots-kenya-lalaani-vitendo-vya-ubakaji-kiambu
Groots Kenya, a National movement of grassroots women- led community-based groups (CBOs) and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in Kenya says that the situation has aggravated mental illnesses.
Read more: http://latestnewskenya.com/?p=3942
In Kenya, 65 % of households (8.1 million people) use firewood as their primary cooking fuel. Out of this number, 71% of households use a woodstove as either their primary or secondary cookstove. A greater prevalence of these households (92%) are in rural areas. The use of firewood for cooking in Kenya has serious implications on public health. It exposes users to many health problems, especially lung diseases. An estimated 21,560 deaths are caused by household air pollution (HAP) every year (Clean Cooking Sector Study, 2019).
The uptake of improved and clean cooking technologies and fuels is still very low, especially in rural areas. A survey conducted by GROOTS Kenya in 2017 for Kitui County showed that 67% rely on traditional three-stone cooking stoves for everyday cooking. They cited high costs, technology suitability of improved jikos e.g. efficiency, ease of use and durability as some of the factors that determine the choice of the stove. In Kilifi County, a clean cooking context analysis found that 83% of the population use biomass, with a bigger percentage depending mainly on firewood and three-stones cooking method.
In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, restricted movement means that rural women and girls who mainly depend on biomass for cooking will face difficulties fetching firewood that is mainly sourced from nearby forests/areas.
GROOTS Kenya, in collaboration with SNV through the Voice for Change Partnership has been promoting increased adoption of clean cookstoves and fuels in Kenya through interventions at both demand and supply sides. Working with rural women clean cooking champions is one of the approaches that has brought attention to the clean cooking energy agenda to both policy makers and the public, with a few counties gradually picking up this priority for planning and budgeting. Such efforts need to be accelerated as air pollution is an ongoing global crisis.
GROOTS Kenya is a national movement of grassroots women-led community-based groups (CBOs) and Self Help Groups (SHGs) in Kenya, we empower women to be champions in development and effective leaders and agents of change in their communities. GROOTS Kenyan partnership with SNV is implementing the Voice for Change Program, The projects overall goal is to facilitate an enabling environment for increased adoption of clean stoves and fuels in Kenya. GROOTS Kenya seeks to achieve this by supporting counties develop clean cooking plans entrenched into policy and working with member of the private sector and local women entrepreneurs to model alternative modern technologies and employ the champions model a cross counties in Kenya to increase voices demanding for implementation of clean cooking related policies and programs.
Your REF: Our REF: WOMENRIGHTSCSO/2020 Date: 22/04/2020
To,
Hon. Prof Margret Kobia
Cabinet Secretary, Public Service and Gender
Hon. Mutahi Kagwe,
Cabinet Secretary for Health,
Chairperson, National Emergency Response Committee on Coronavirus
Hon. Simon K. Chelugui,
Cabinet Secretary for Labour, Social Security and Services,
Dr. Fred Okengo Matiang’i,
Cabinet Secretary for Interior & Coordination of National Government,
Hon. David Maraga,
Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya,
Mr. Hilary Nzioki Mutyambai,
Inspector General, National Police Service,
Mr. Noordin Haji.
Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
Hon. Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya
Chairperson Council of Governors
Siddharth Chatterjee
UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya
Dr. Ademola Olajibe
Representative United Nations Population Fund
Anne Mutavati
UN Women Country Director
“The danger of a shadow pandemic is that it perpetuates itself in silence and secrecy and responses to the same are shadowy, lacking in commitment. Solutions remain weak and erratic. Such is the case of gender-based violence in Kenya and many other parts of the world. The pandemic of violence against women and girls during the COVID-19 Response must be
brought to light through appropriate and timely mitigation and responses“
We, the undersigned Women Rights organizations of Kenya, being representatives of women and girls in all their diversity including grassroots and rural women and girls, women and girls in the informal settlements, women in Business, Women in Professional Bodies and in all Associations and organizations. We take note of increased reported incidents of violations of Human rights specifically on Gender Based Violence as a result of pre-existing conditions that encourage violence and exploitation of women and girls exacerbated by the measures undertaken by the Government to prevent further spread of the Corona Virus Disease (COVID19).
The COVID -19 crisis has magnified the structural violence and inequalities that the most vulnerable in the society including women, youth and children and Persons living with Disability (PWD) continue to endure even in ‘peace’ times. This has further played out in the development of relevant responses by the Government of Kenya, where the voice of civil society has been left to the periphery and the allocation of resources has had little regard for addressing violence against women and girls, so far identified as being critical through the different statements that the sector has shared.
We, however recognize and laud the government for the pandemic response efforts so far that have ranged from daily updates on the status of spread of the disease; comprehensive messaging on the preventive hygiene measures; isolation and quarantine measures for confirmed and suspected cases respectively to the directive to work from home for nonessential service providers. These measures, while intended for the good of all, they need to factor in the unique and practical needs of diverse groups of women and girls of Kenya and the realities under which they live and operate in this country.
We particularly note that these measures have compounded and exacerbated the triggers of violence including socio-economic challenges and other inequalities resulting to significant rise in incidences of Rape, Defilement and Domestic violence; increase in Intimate Partner Violence. The Stay at Home directive is a good one for prevention and containment of the spread of the corona virus. However, the directive has been applied without cognizance of existing risks to vulnerable groups who face restricted movement and thereby exposing them to violence, inequalities and stifled the voices of those exposed to violence and abuse. The inability and reduced access to income earning opportunities, loss of jobs and livelihoods have provided a fertile ground for gender-based violence to thrive. The limited access to service providers such as health facilities, police stations and access to courts due to social distancing and curfew measures have hampered redress to affected victims of abuse.
Further, the burden of care is highly skewed against women, overwhelmed by work as primary caregivers and at all levels- from the homes to the health facilities where a majority of the health workers are women. The effect on their mental wellness has been detrimental, furthered by their financial instability and inability to provide for their families.
Recognizing the tremendous efforts by the Government through the National Taskforce on COVID 19, including sector-specific responses in identifying essential services and goods required for this period, we urge the Task force to ensure that the National Response Plans to COVID19 are gender responsive and contextualized to the different realities in the communities through proper resourcing – financial and human- to support the practical and strategic gender needs. We call upon the Task force to regularly review the pandemic containment measures in accordance to the human rights commitments and ensure protection and fulfillment of the rights of women and girls. Available analyses indicate that women are more likely to be infected due to the primary care giving roles or as healthcare workers, for instance.
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We further call upon the Ministry of Public Service and Gender to continue putting women and girls at the centre of their efforts, come up with comprehensive interventions towards prevention, response and accountability on violence against women and girls in a coherent, visible and definite manner as has been witnessed through the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education responses to the pandemic.
We specifically ask the government to prioritize timely and appropriate resourcing of the GBV response at national and county levels to provide:
1. Appropriate and accountable funds allocation:
Recommendation: Kenya is receiving funds from partners and agencies such as World Bank, IMF and other donors, in addition to committing its own resources. We recommend strongly that at least 30% of the response funds be allocated towards practical needs of a GBV prevention and response strategy.
2. Shelter and safe houses:
Recommendation: Ensure women and girls who are survivors of abuse and violence have access to safe and alternative shelter and temporary accommodation that offers protection against Gender Based Violence.
3. Medical care and treatment:
Recommendation: Ensure that survivors of GBV access medical treatment at all government facilities for free as part of a GBV referral network to ensure uninterrupted access of emergency services for survivors.
4. Psycho-social and online counselling:
Recommendation: The 1195 state-run toll-free number should be fully resourced to operate for 24 hours from the Covid-19 fund to provide psychosocial support and care as well as referral for survivors.
Recommendation: 24-hour tele-counseling and psychosocial services that provide phone-based care and management.
5. Legal aid provision:
Recommendation: Ensure Provision of free legal aid and representation for GBV survivors in all counties and that access to justice for survivors of violence is prioritised by the courts. Additionally sustained messaging by NPS and the ODPP on GBV.
Recommendation: Courts should handle domestic violence cases as urgent following a United Nation’s alert about a horrifying global surge in domestic violence in recent times.
6. Provision of more targeted messaging for vulnerable populations:
Recommendation: Raise specific awareness of protection and response from GBV promote healthy behaviors and social norm change, reduce stigma and discrimination while supporting the building of safer more resilient communities, depending on prevailing risk factors including enhanced exposure to early pregnancies, forced marriages, commercial sex exploitation and abuse, Female Genital Mutilation and abuse of the elderly.
Recommendation: The government COVID 19 response teams must provide and include messaging and give clear directives on how pregnant women and girls should continue safely accessing their natal care and seek out assisted deliveries to avert child and mortality rates during this pandemic, including reinforcing the messaging that the curfew rules do not apply to this category of women and girls or those seeking to flee from a violent environment.
7. Cash transfer, food distribution and Sanitary towels:
Provision of cash to vulnerable households to ease economic stress in a dignified manner and especially to vulnerable female headed households, including those with disabilities.
Recommendation: That priority is given to female, persons with disabilities and children headed households as they face exacerbated vulnerability and that food is given to individuals rather than households to regulate the unequal power relations within households, reduce women’s dependence on men and ensure women have enough for their children.
Recommendation: that food to female and child headed households be distributed by women responders to prevent abuse, harassment and exploitation of women and girls.
Recommendation :Distribution of dignity/hygiene kits such as sanitary towels to vulnerable women and girls.
8. Access to water:
Recommendation: Installation and supply of WASH resources to promote hygiene especially the informal settlements must consider safety and protection concerns for women and girls. Safe locations should be mapped and which are accessible to all
especially to older women, women and girls with disabilities, to reduce risk of GBV in accessing these facilities.
9. Strategic Partnership:
Recommendation: Convene briefings with partners, such as women’s right groups and other organizations representing most marginalized communities, to ensure that the response to COVID-19 does not perpetuate harmful gender norms,discriminatory practices and inequalities, including within the quarantine experience.
10.Data:
Recommendation Provision of accessible gender data further dis aggregated by multiple dimensions crucial for response.
Signed by:
1. Centre for Rights Education and Awareness – CREAW
2. FIDA – Kenya
3. Coalition on Violence Against Women- COVAW
4. Equality Now
5. GROOTS Kenya
6. SDGs Forum Kenya
7. KEFEADO – Kenya Female Advisory Organisation
What a timing for the 2020 World Waters Day in the wake of COVID-19!
The world, including the most economically developed nations have not been spared by the deadly Coronavirus. In order to contain and combat spreading of the humbling and threatening COVID-19, the Kenya government has put in place strict and specific for the public and everyone for that matter, that they must observe at all times. As the international community celebrates the annual World Water Day on March 22, 2020, it is important that we pause to observe certain realities. How many times, for instance, have we heard the phrase wash your hand with water and soap? We have constantly been told that proper of washing hands with soap and water is the most effective and cheapest form of controlling infections. But even as we fight the spread of COVID-19, there is need for the government and ourselves to ask; where is this water? How cheap is this water? How many Kenyans and specifically the women at the grassroots have access to water, and quality water at that?
The WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) joint monitoring programme report (2019) by The World Health Organization and UNICEF found that only 59% of Kenyans have access to basic water services[1]. What hope do the remaining 41% have in light of the COVID-19 virus? This is a critical issue that we as a nation has address as a matter of priority and urgency, especially at this time when we are trying to fight spread of the Coronavirus pandemic from causing further economic and social devastation and to ensure the welfare of the people and specifically women at the country’s grassroots.
In some areas of Kenya, grassroots women have to walk up to a minimum of more than two kilometers to fetch water. In the capital Nairobi, taps are most times dry and the City thirsty, with most of the residents who live in highly populated estates and slums do not have constant supply of clean water. The consequence of this at this time especially, is that it exposes the residents to a high risk of being infected with COVID-19. This also applies to most rural areas of Kenya which experience lack of effective and constant supply of safe and clean water. The COVID-19 pandemic has further compounded the care burden of women. This is because, women traditionally bear the burden of sourcing for water and taking care of the sick and the family in general. If women are unable to access clean and quality water, the situation will becomes dire for them, families and the society in general.
Water and Sanitation services is provided for in Chapter 4 (Bill of Rights), of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 Section 43 (1d) of the Constitution of Kenya states that “every person has the right to clean and safe water in adequate quantities”. The Kenya vision 2030 strives to ensure the availability and access to water and improved sanitation for all. However, this vision has been curtailed by among others, corruption cartels that are aided by the same political class that is charged with the responsibility to deliver Vision 2030. We have clear examples in the Arror and Kimwarer Dams scandal, and The Galana Kulalu irrigation project scandal.
Even as the uncertainty of the Coronavirus pandemic continues to occupy the minds of every Kenyan, on this World Water Day, it is pertinent that both the national and county governments put in place radical and extra ordinary measures to ensure that women in the grassroots in all the 47 counties have constant access to water to- at the very least- be able to wash their hands (with soap) within the households!
GROOTS Kenya which works with women in the grassroots and in slums, believes that –and from experience-that placing women in positions of leadership at all levels in the water sector is crucial in ensuring increased access to water by the women in Kenya and particulary those living in the rural areas and the slums. It is in this light the organization has collected and is collating data on women’s access to water and evidence generation. The two levels of governments in our nation must also do the same as they seek to provide water, the all-important and golden liquid which together with soap-will help in fighting the pandemic that has invaded the world and threatening our nation and ensure women in grassroots areas of Kenya access quality water.
There is need for more investment on Gender disaggregated data and information to streamline gender issues in the country.
This is according to GROOTS Kenya-an organization championing for the rights of women at grassroot level in Kenya.
GROOTS Kenya Chief Executive Officer Fridah Githuku notes that journalists writing gender stories have had difficulties in accessing gender data.
It is for this reason that GROOTS Kenya has taken the initiative to harvest gender data from different stakeholders with focus being launching a Gender Data Dash Board where journalists will be able to access when writing stories on gender.
Ms Githuku was addressing journalists from various counties who converged in Machakos over the weekend for a two day workshop on gender reporting.
She said the launch of the Gender Data Dash Board will help save time for journalists whom she noted need quick and accurate information that can be accessed.
The online portal that is expected to be launched early next year will only require journalists to quote the source of the data that shall have been collected from various stakeholders but under one point of access.
“As journalists when you are writing a story you don’t have the privilege of time and therefore this dash board will help address that as it will be easily accessible” said Ms Githuku.
According to the Global Gender Index that was launched this year, Kenya has made some progress compared to other countries in Africa and the World as far as Gender issues are concerned.
Ms Githuku challenging journalists in the country to also make good use of the Global Gender Index when writing on Gender issues.
She urged the both counties and National government to invest more on the Gender disaggregated data and information.
“The moment you know the progress that women are making or areas that need investment then we will be able to ensure resource allocation. That’s why we cannot have gender budgeting if we do not have Gender disaggregated data and information” said Ms Githuku.
PHOTO/Pristone Mambili:GROOTS Kenya Chief Executive Officer Fridah Githuku during a workshop for journalists on Gender data reporting.
http://famousnakuru.co.ke/lobby-group-calls-for-more-investment-on-gender-disaggregated-data-to-address-inequality/
Na LAWRENCE ONGARO
KUNA haja ya wanawake kupata nafasi katika maswala mengi ya kijamii, imejadiliwa kwenye kongamano moja Maanzoni Lodge, Machakos.
Mkurugenzi wa shirika la Groots Kenya Bi Fridah Githuka alisema Alhamisi kwamba kwa muda mrefu wanawake hawajapata haki yao katika maswala mengi ya uongozi.
Alisema shirika hilo linahamashisha wanawake kote nchini kuhusu haki zao.
Baadhi ya maswala muhimu wanayoangazia ni maswala ya urithi wa vipande vya ardhi kwa wanawake, uongozi, uhifadhi wa mazingira, na maswala ya maabukizi ya Virusi Vinavyosababisha Ukimwi; HIV-Aids.
Kongamano hilo liliangazia maswala ya kuhifadhi data kuhusu maswala ya ardhi na jinsi ambavyo wanawake wametengwa ikija kwa suala la urithi.
Hafla hiyo ilikuwa chini ya National Data Driven Advocacy for Gender na kufadhiliwa na shirika la Groots Kenya.
“Lengo letu kubwa ni kuwahamasisha wanawake ili wawe na ufahamu ya haki zao,” alisema Bi Githuku.
Aliyasema hayo mnamo Alhamisi katika mkahawa wa Maanzoni Lodge, Kaunti ya Machakos kwenye hafla ya kuwahamasisha waandishi wa habari jinsi ya kuripoti maswala yanayowahusu wanawake moja kwa moja.
Waandishi wapatao 30 kutoka kaunti tofauti walihimizwa kujihusisha pakubwa na maswala ya wanawake ambao hawajaangaziwa sana katika maswala mengi na nyanja mbalimbali.
Bi Githuka aliwahimiza kuangazia maswala ya ubakaji na matakwa ya wanawake.
Ukakamavu
Mwandishi na aliyekuwa mhariri katika kampuni ya Nation Media Group, Plc Bi Njeri Rugene aliwahimiza waandishi wa habari kuwa na ukakamavu wanaporipoti habari zao.
“Kabla hujaripoti habari kamili, ni sharti ufanye utafiti wako vyema. Sio vyema kuandika mambo yasiyo sahihi,” alisema Bi Rugene.
Alitaja kesi za unajisi na ubakaji kama nyeti na ambazo zinastahili kuandikwa kwa umakini mkubwa bila kuibua taharuki.
“Ukiwa mwandishi, sharti uwe makini unaporipoti habari yoyote. Sio vyema kuandika jambo linaloweza kuzua utata kwa familia na kwako pia kama mwandishi,” alisema Bi Rugene.
Waandishi walihimizwa kuwa mstari wa mbele kuangazia wananchi kinachoendelea katika jamii.
“Kila mwandishi anastahili kujituma na kujitokeza na habari zilizofanyiwa utafiti wa kina,” alisema Bi Rugene.
Wanawake waitaka jamii kuhakikisha visiki dhidi yao vinaondolewa
Na LAWRENCE ONGARO
KUHIFADHI data za maswala muhimu kunahitajika ili kupata ukweli halisi wa jinsi mambo yalivyo.
Maafisa wa serikali kadha; kutoka Kaunti ya Nairobi, Kiambu, na Kajiado, walihudhuria kikao cha kujadili hali za wanawake kwenye kongamano la National Data-Driven Advocacy for Gender Equality lililoandaliwa katika mkahawa wa Maanzoni Lodge, Kaunti ya Machakos.
Mkurugenzi wa shirika la Groots Kenya linalojishughulisha zaidi na kutetea haki za wanawake mashinani Bi Fridah Githuku, alisema mkutano huo ulifana kwa sababu waandishi wa habari wapatao 30 walipata taswira bora kuhusu data za maswala muhimu ya kijamii.
“Nina matumaini ya kwamba waandishi wa habari wataangazia maswala mengi waliyoelezwa kuhusu changamoto kadha zinazoshuhudiwa katika jamii,” alisema.
Baadhi ya mambo muhimu yaliyojadiliwa kwa kina ni kuhusu umiliki wa vipande vya ardhi kwa wanawake wajane, na kadhia ya wasichana kuozwa wakiwa wadogo.
Maafisa wa serikali waliohudhuria hafla hiyo walielezea kwa kina data halisi za maswala hayo katika sehemu husika hapa nchini.
Serikali inahitaji kutafuta mbinu ya kushinikiza wale wanaotumia vibaya wafanyakazi; hasa wanaofanya za sulubu kuwalipa angalau pesa kiasi za kuwawezesha kukidhi mahitaji bila ugumu.
Mkutano ulijadili jinsi ambavyo watu wengi wamenyanyaswa; hasa wanawake ambapo imedaiwa hufanya kazi muda wa saa nyingi licha ya changamoto tele zilizopo.
Hafla hiyo ilijadili mengi kuhusu wanawake na wasichana ikidaiwa hukosa kumiliki hatimiliki za vipande vya ardhi kutokana na maswala ya utamaduni.
Kulingana na mkutano huo, ilibainika kuwa wasichana wadogo chini ya umri wa miaka 15 hukeketwa bila hiari yao. Ilielezwa kwamba kitendo hicho bado kinaendelea kisiri bila serikali kujua.
Kulingana na data ya kiafya mwaka wa 2014 asilimia 27.4 ya wasichana waliolewa chini ya umri wa miaka 16 ikilinganishwa na 1989 ambapo wasichana asilimia 44.5 walioolewa.
Utafiti huo uliyoendeshwa na Shirika la Groots Kenya umebainisha kuwa Kaunti ya Kakamega asilimia 84 ina wafanyakazi wengi wanawake wasiolipwa chochote huku wakifanya kazi za sulubu ikilinganishwa na asilimia 16 ya wanaume wanaoedesha kazi ya bwerere bila malipo.
Katika Kaunti ya Kiambu asilimia 80 ya wanawake ndio hufanya kazi ya sulubu nao wanaume wakiwa ni asilimia 20.
Wananchi wamehimizwa kufanya juhudi kuzuru afisi za serikali katika jumba la GPO, ili kutazama data tofauti zinazoangazia maswala mengi ya serikali.
“Afisi hizo ziko wazi kwa mwananchi yeyote ambaye angetaka kujijulisha mengi kuhusu jambo lolote lile kuhusu data kwa mambo ya serikali,” alisema Mkurugenzi huyo wa Groots Kenya.
Waandishi wa habari walipewa changamoto kuhakikisha ya kwamba wamezuru sehemu kadha mashinani na kufanya juhudi kuandika habari kuhusu yanayokumba jamii.
Mfano wa maswala hayo ulikuwa ni ndoa za mapema, wanawake kukosa haki zao hasa mashinani, na maswala ya ukeketati kwa wasichana.
https://taifaleo.nation.co.ke/?p=38220