Confronting sexual and gender based violence – Weekly Citizen

When I arrive at a hotel in the leafy suburb that is Hurlingham for an interview, I am welcomed by the site of two children cheerfully playing with each other.

Oblivious of onlookers and the busy environs, they laugh, run around, hug and seemingly converse using language that only they understand. One is a 14-year-old girl while the other is a three-year-old boy.

The decor and intricate organisation of the hotel give it an apparent sheen that gives it an appeal—one of elegance – but my mind is not easily distracted from the children who are at this point shouting, chasing each other around.

As soon I am seated and ready to scribble down notes, I am confronted by a reality that for a minute is too damning to take in. The two kids Mueni and Kitavi are not brother and sister as I earlier thought but mother and son.

Coalition on Violence Against Women executive director Wairimu Munyinyi – Wahome

Dumbfounded, I proceed to enquire how such a young and innocent girl could have given birth at such a young age. “These are my grandchildren and I have been taking care of them. Most of the people confuse them to be my children but they are not. I am their grandmother,” says Mwende their guardian.

She requests that their identities, including hers, be kept a secret for fear of ridicule and stigma associated with families that have battled the dragon of sexual and gender based violence by the society.

Mwende explains that once you experience the dragon of sexual and gender-based violence, your entire world is only seen through the lens of sadness, hopelessness and grief not forgetting pain and anger. She continues to explain that Kitavi was born as a result of her granddaughter Mueni being sexually abused by her school principal in Kitui. Mueni gave birth to Kitavi in September 2015 at the Kenyatta National Hospital through caesarian section. Given her age, she could not give birth naturally.

Mueni who is mentally challenged used to learn at a school for the special in Kitui but she has since dropped out following the traumatic sexual abuse incident.

“I remember receiving a call from the school matron informing me that the schools were closed and I should come pick up Mueni. On arrival, I was however shocked to find that she had on extra clothing around her stomach,” said Mwende.

“Shortly after we arrived home in Machakos, I asked her to remove the extra clothes around her stomach and that’s when I realised that she was pregnant since she had a protruding navel. Interestingly, the matron had tried to convince me that it was only a case of ‘minyoo’ to which I strongly objected,” she added.

Mwende immediately called the dad who lived in Nairobi and informed him of what had happened. He would later send them fare and they boarded a matatu to Nairobi and alighted at Komarock estate where he lived.

“The next morning, I took Mueni to Kenyatta Hospital where she was tested and it was confirmed that she was four months pregnant,” said Mwende.