As the world commemorated International Women’s Day on Saturday, human rights activists from Bungoma have been urged to be bold and just in addressing issues related to their duty in order to ensure victims receive justice.
Renowned human rights activist Njeri Kabeberi stated that one of the challenges has been the lack of knowledge on how to investigate, monitor, and report human rights violations. She emphasized that the focus is on providing tools to help tackle the issues that arise.
Addressing the participants in Bungoma, Kabeberi, who is the director of Chapter IV Institute, mentioned that Bungoma is the 13th county they are training. She added that the upcoming Women’s Day commemoration, under the theme “Accelerating Action,” is an opportunity to equip participants with the necessary tools to address these issues effectively.
Stephane Stuart, director of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, which supports the program, stated that they believe in individual rights and the economic aspect of liberalism, and they aim to promote human rights by teaching people what to do if their rights are violated.
Dr. Beril Mutekhele noted that the training has come at the right time, as many Kenyans continue to suffer despite the constitution being in place to protect their well-being. She expressed that the teachings would help participants become transformed and empowered to create positive change.
She also highlighted that Bungoma County has been in the spotlight due to increased cases of gender-based violence. With the new skills learned through the training, they will be better equipped to address these issues and find solutions for the future.
Her sentiments were echoed by Ruth Awino, founder of the Bungoma County Women’s Caucus, who urged women, in particular, to come out in large numbers and join the cause to ensure that gender-based violence is tackled effectively.
