In Kisumu City’s informal settlement of Nyalenda, ActionAid Kenya, through the Access to Justice and Security project, is transforming lives by championing women’s rights and ensuring survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) access justice and healing. Implemented in partnership with Pambazuko la Wanawake Magharibi (PALAWAMA) and funded by Rabelais Trust, this initiative is restoring dignity and hope to women who have endured profound hardships.
Among these powerful stories is that of Martha* (not her real name), a courageous woman who has reclaimed her voice and agency after years of silence and stigma. Martha* and her mother, both survivors of GBV, have endured immense hardship. Forced out of their matrimonial home, Martha’s widowed mother settled in Nyalenda, raising her children alone. At 21, while running errands for her ailing mother, Martha* was brutally attacked by unknown assailants, one of whom raped her. The assault left deep emotional scars, yet she remained silent, fearing stigma and blame rather than support.
For five years, Martha carried her trauma alone. The weight of societal judgment, compounded by the challenges of single motherhood, led to emotional distress and isolation. Her mother, recognizing her struggles, encouraged her to join a survivor support network under the Access to Justice and Security Project for Women and Girls.
Within this support network, Martha found a community of women who understood her pain. Encouraged by the solidarity of fellow survivors, she finally broke her silence, revealing to her mother the truth about the attack that led to her pregnancy. Seeking counseling for the first time, she described the experience as lifting a tremendous weight off her shoulders. This marked the beginning of her journey toward healing.
Through ActionAid Kenya’s intervention, Martha not only received psychosocial support but also gained the tools to rebuild her life. The project provided mentorship, business coaching, and training in income-generating skills such as producing liquid soap, detergent, and disinfectants. With financial literacy and entrepreneurship training, she established a thriving small business that now sustains her family.
Today, Martha is no longer defined by stigma, she is a leader, an advocate, and a beacon of hope in her community. She actively supports fellow survivors, encouraging them to seek justice and economic independence. Her transformation from trauma to self-reliance underscores the power of resilience, community support, and women’s solidarity.
Martha’s story is a testament to the critical role ActionAid Kenya plays in breaking cycles of violence, restoring dignity, and ensuring women not only heal but thrive. As she powerfully states:
“I now know that my voice matters, and I will use it to uplift others just as I was uplifted.”
By investing in survivors’ recovery, economic empowerment, and leadership, ActionAid Kenya continues to create lasting change. We stand committed to ensuring that no survivor walks alone because together, we are breaking the chains of stigma and building a future free from violence.
Authors: Dinah Wambua, Project Officer, Access to Justice and Security Project and Judy Oduor, Project Coordinator, Access to Justice and Security Project, ActionAid Kenya.
Edited by Ezra Kiriago ,Communications Coordinator ActionAid Kenya.