MAKING JUSTICE WORK FOR WOMEN Kenya Country Report RITA SHACKEL & LUCY FISKE Making Transitional Justice Work for Women: Rights, Resilience, and Responses to Violence Against Women in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Northern Uganda, and Kenya IN CONJUNCTION WITH MAKING JUSTICE WORK FOR WOMEN Kenya Country Report Rita Shackel and Lucy Fiske Making Transitional Justice Work for Women: Rights, Resilience, and Responses to Violence Against Women in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Northern Uganda, and Kenya August 2016 i Funded by: Australian Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade In collaboration with: Action Aid Australia Action Aid DRC Action Aid Uganda Action Aid Kenya © 2016 Rita Shackel © 2016 Lucy Fiske The University of Sydney University of Technology Sydney Camperdown PO Box 123, Broadway NSW 2006 NSW 2007 Australia Australia CRICOS Number: 00026A CRICOS Number: 00099F [email protected] [email protected] This publication was made possible through the Australian Development Research Awards Scheme, a programme that supports primary research to improve the quality and effectiveness of Australian aid in developing countries. DISCLAIMER The authors’ views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, or the Australian Government. © Cover: The cover image is of a traditional African fabric found on an online store. The cover was designed by Judy Zhu and Christen Athos. ii Acknowledgements This report would not have been possible without the generous support of many people and organisations who gave freely of their time and expertise. We would like to thank the team at Action Aid Kenya who have been integral partners from inception to conclusion, in particular Makena Mwobobia (Head of Programs) and Naomi Wambui for their input in designing the research, facilitating the fieldwork and ensuring all logistics throughout the project. Alice Kimani and EllyJoy Kithure for excellent research collaboration in the field, introduction to their networks and generous hosting of us several times during the project. Thank you also to Mabel Isolio (Consultant and Lead Researcher) and to Lucy Atieno and Lawrence Mwachidudu for transcriptions. In Australia, we would like to thank Carol Angir (Senior Program Co-ordinator - Addressing Violence Against Women), Casey McCowan (former Partnership Coordinator) and Michelle Higelin (Deputy Executive Director). The team at Action Aid initiated the research project and have collaborated closely throughout the project, their passion for women’s rights in conflict affected societies, knowledge of the country environments and determination to ‘make it happen’ are unsurpassed. Thank you also to Lara Warren, AVID Volunteer, whose timely stewardship of fieldwork and transcripts was very much appreciated. Many people have contributed to this project in a range of ways from transcribing interviews, organising databases, conducting literature reviews, setting up NVivo and the multitude of tasks necessary to ensure successful completion. The many research assistants, interns and volunteers who assisted on this project are listed in Appendix A. We are grateful to all the key informants listed in Appendix C for sharing their thoughts and insights with us and those who wish to remain anonymous. This research would not have been possible without the generous financial support of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Australian Development Research Awards and for the Department’s ongoing interest in the project. Finally, the authors wish to thank the women of Kenya who shared their opinions, experiences and feelings with us. We are grateful for your openness and trust in us and hope that this report makes a contribution to improving access to justice for all women in Kenya. iii MAKING JUSTICE WORK FOR WOMEN IN KENYA LIST OF ACRONYMS ...................................................................................................................... VI CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND ................................................................ 1 1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE PROJECT .................................................................................................... 1 1.2 PROJECT METHODOLOGY .............................................................................................................. 2 1.2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 2 1.2.2 The research questions .......................................................................................................... 2 1.2.3 Methodology .......................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 HISTORY AND CONTEXT OF THE CONFLICT AND TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE IN KENYA ................. 15 1.3.1 A snapshot of Kenya ............................................................................................................ 15 1.3.2 Counties of Kenya ............................................................................................................... 17 1.3.3 Colonisation and post-colonial politics .............................................................................. 18 1.3.4 Ethnic identity versus national identity ............................................................................... 20 1.3.5 Inequalities: Land and socio-economic status .................................................................... 20 1.3.6 Influx of firearms and formation of militia groups ............................................................. 22 1.3.7 Description of conflict in the research sites ........................................................................ 22 1.3.8 Gendered violence ............................................................................................................... 30 1.3.9 Justice or culture of impunity .............................................................................................. 31 CHAPTER 2: WOMEN IN KENYA SPEAK TO JUSTICE ......................................................... 34 2.1 THE RESEARCH FOCUS ................................................................................................................ 34 2.2 POST-ELECTION VIOLENCE: A CONTINUUM OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ............................. 34 2.3 GENDER IN CONTEXT IN KENYA: THE VERY LOW STATUS OF WOMEN ....................................... 36 2.4 PSYCHOLOGICAL AFTERMATH OF VIOLENCE .............................................................................. 37 2.5 DISPLACEMENT ........................................................................................................................... 40 2.6 WIDOWS ...................................................................................................................................... 41 2.7 CHILDREN ................................................................................................................................... 42 2.8 ACCESSING JUSTICE .................................................................................................................... 44 2.9 RESISTANCE ................................................................................................................................ 47 CHAPTER 3: WOMEN’S NEEDS AND PRIORITIES FOR JUSTICE IDENTIFIED ............. 49 3.1 SAFETY AND SECURITY ............................................................................................................... 49 3.2 HEALTH ....................................................................................................................................... 54 3.2.1 Health needs after sexual assault ........................................................................................ 54 3.2.2 HIV ...................................................................................................................................... 57 3.2.3 Psychological effects of sexual violence ............................................................................. 61 3.2.4 Psychological health needs ................................................................................................. 63 3.3 BARRIERS TO ACCESSING HEALTHCARE ..................................................................................... 66 3.3.1 Security ................................................................................................................................ 67 3.3.2 Cost ..................................................................................................................................... 68 3.3.3 Shame/cultural and emotional barriers .............................................................................. 70 3.4 EDUCATION ................................................................................................................................. 72 3.4.1 Education for children ........................................................................................................ 72 3.4.2 Education for women .......................................................................................................... 76 3.5 ECONOMIC JUSTICE ..................................................................................................................... 78 3.5.1 Reparations and compensation ........................................................................................... 80 CHAPTER 4: