Much has been said much has been done and much has been practiced to keep the COVID 19 at bay. However, it is worth noting that the response has been on healthy practices and not towards safety in most households and within the city. In this regard, it has been noted that domestic violence has risen with some cases of death being reported.

Health Chief Administration Secretary, Mercy Mwangangi reportedly said the Gender Violence Recovery Centre and the National Council on Administration of Justice have seen an increase in the cases of domestic, gender-based and sexual violence perpetrated by close relatives and guardians during this pandemic.

The upsurge is caused by the rising cases of job losses, others forced to stay with abusive spouses, mental and psychological effects of the pandemic among others. In a sad case in Kibera, a man was hacked to death by his wife and dumped in a water tank after a quarrel ensued over who was to buy food for the family. There are many sad cases such as this that go unreported largely because some do not result to death, or in most cases, the women, who are the most affected, would rather deal with the situation at a family level.

The COVID 19 has brought discord in most homes and notably Kibera where poverty is a stark reality. Adherence to social distance, washing hands, wearing masks residents find it difficult to practice. It is sufficed to say that the locals here live one day at a time, for them, this is a rich man’s disease.

However, this kind of thought pattern does not limit them from the Government directives. For instance, observance of curfew is a must for all Kenyan citizens with exception of those on the frontline.

Kibera has a population that lives on less than a dollar a day. Most locals had established roadside food vending spots targeting those who are going back home after a hard day’s work. This has dealt a great blow to the economic status of women who ran this ‘vibandas’ as they are known locally.

As they sit and wait at home, often some without a way forward, quarrels are abound to ensue. This greatly affects children who are often third party victims in domestic violence

With the COVID 19 cases rising daily, it is our hope that the domestic violence cases will not rise and that the Government of Kenya will take food distribution to each and every household in Kibera and not to a selected few.

Join our campaign as we discuss the safety gap on 11 May 2020, 15:30p.m. – 17:00p.m at the Urban Thinkers Campus Webinar

Walking through the shanty houses one cannot but wonder if those in informal settlements are safe from this pandemic.  With the rising gender based violence and street harassment are the girls safe in this squalid neighborhood that is already straining from the stark poverty?

What measures is the government taking to prevent sexual harassment and violence affecting our girls and women with disability in informal settlements?. Achieng responded to this question during an awareness campaign on COVID 19 held in the slum by Polycom Development.

She says, “We are not able to learn well from home. There are a lot of distractions from outside from neighbors and little children playing”. She continues to say that sanitation is a big challenge. They cannot access tap water but can only hope for rain. “Our parents are jobless, we don’t have food, we sometimes cry ourselves to sleep when my parents don’t get anything for our empty stomachs and sometimes we shut our ears as our parents bicker about the whole night. This has often led to violence metted on my mother”.

“This for me is so painful”. She says amidst sobs. “I wish COVID 19 never traced its way to Africa”.

Polycom Development Project has been at the forefront to ensure women and girls in Kibera do not suffer due to the COVID 19 pandemic. It is surprising to note that food is distributed but majority of the marginalized women are finding this exercise difficult. Take for instance, Stella a thirteen year old girl living with her parents in the sprawling Kibera slums.

Life here has been unbearable and the pandemic has made the situation worse.  From a household that earns two dollars a day, the disease has rendered them hunger stricken. Food was cheaper but with restricted movement, this has affected their income. They as a family have to eat one meal a day.  With a desperate look drawn on her face, Stella has nothing more to say but ask the Government to consider giving them stipends instead of daily cuing up for food.

This is a difficult period for the household of four. If they are caught without masks, they are arrested; if they are caught outside during curfew they are arrested. “What can we do”? She asks amidst sobs. She continues, “We have to eat’.

#DignifiedResponse to women and girls living in informal settlements

Nelly (Not her real name) is worried, she has missed her periods for 3 months, and is experiencing morning sickness. She is very worried, she is a candidate preparing to sit for her KCPE, she doesn’t; know what to do. She is dull, sleeps in class, pick up fights easily, something is very wrong. She is reported to the Ambassadors, who take their time to privately find out what is wrong with her, they start stressing on the need to share worries through the Talking Boxes. Nelly is approached and requested to share whatever her problems is through the Talking Boxes. The mentors are alerted that something isn’t right with one of the girls and they should come for a GPENDE Assembly so the girls are reminded that they don’t have to keep their problems but share on paper. They girls have not revealed who their target girl is, the mentors hit the road to this particular school.

Contents are collected on the 2^nd day and there is one reading “how can you know if you are pregnant?”. The mentors have to go back to school for content response, they are addressing pregnancy, how people become pregnant and the signs. The Ambassadors are convinced that Nelly is pregnant, Nelly is also convinced that she is pregnant. The Ambassadors decide to take it head on, they are their sister’s keeper. The approach is super, I am smiling as the ambassadors narrate how they approached Nelly. “Kindly tell us what your problem is, we are the only people who can help you without judging you. Whatever the problem we can solve it at Polycom without letting anyone know. You know Hilda (The Mentor in charge of the school) is our friend and we agreed that we cannot hide anything from her. We suspect that you are pregnant.” Nelly has been corners, so she admits her fears. They agree to come to Polycom and talk to Hilda to advise.

The girls report to their Patron (teacher in charge of Polycom programs) that they have an emergency and must rush to Polycom. They cannot be stopped, many teachers associate such emergencies with abrupt periods so they never stop them. When the girls get to the office they approach Hilda who gives them an appointment to come back the following day with Nelly. Hilda is taking her time to discuss with the resident Counsellor on what to do. The girls have to sneak out this time around, they cannot request to go to Polycom again and be allowed. They received pads yesterday and cannot have any further emergency.

Hilda is ready with the Counsellor to sit with Nelly as they rest of the Ambassadors continue with their usual Girls Talk with Hilda shortly and then leave back to school. The girls will come back for Nelly at 3:00 p.m. After intensive session, Nelly is taken to the clinic for test by Everlyne, a Polycom Volunteer. She is ready to confront her fears after the counselling session.

Nelly has a boyfriend who is a boda boda rider, they have been having unprotected sex for over 6 months, note, at times he uses protection at times he doesn’t. She has been having morning sickness and even vomited that morning. She is always tired and sleeping, so all the signs are there, she is pregnant. The nurse is prepared ahead of time, we want our girl to be handled in a special way, she must be encouraged and supported whether her result is positive or negative.

And good news, Nelly is not pregnant! She jumps and hugs Everlyne, and has hope and joy written all over her face. A sigh of relief for Nelly.

Now our work as Polycom begins:-

• We must make sure that Nelly is supported to do her examination
• We must walk with Nelly to understand the importance of her education and the need to make it a priority.
• We must upskill her understanding of Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights.
• We must encourage the girls to use the Talking Boxes more
• More GPENDE Assemblies are needed to encourage to use the Talking Boxes.

Story By

Anyango Jane

Founding Director

Polycom Development Project

CSOs, Women living with disabilities and other actors were brought together to discuss how to address multiple discrimination against women living with disabilities in the slums.

Global Giving’s Girl Fund campaign 2019 – 1 st Runners up is POLYCOM DEVELOPMENT PROJECT! After a
tough and very vigorous campaigns and lobbying for resources, we became 2 nd globally

Polycom Development Project made her 5 th appearance for CSW at the New York Headquarters in New
York. It was a great opportunity for Polycom to lobby for support for grassroots women