Beyond your parents: Life-saving resources that could have saved teen bride from death

The story of a teenage refugee girl forcibly married to a 55-year-old man was horrifying. What was even more heartbreaking being that she had reached out to her mother, who was 150 km away, for help via a voice recording and a call, but it didn’t save her. Instead, she was killed, and her body was set on fire.

Read more: GBV: Children tipped on how to report cases

One might ask: If she had an alternative to her parent, could she have been saved? This question underscores the importance of knowing where a woman, man, or child at risk can seek help. Below are some essential resources:

Hotlines

1195

This toll-free line is run by Healthcare Assistance Kenya in collaboration with the State Department of Gender and Affirmative Action. By calling this number, you will reach the National Gender-Based Violence Rapid Response Call Centre, which operates 24/7. The centre provides services such as guidance and counselling, legal aid, shelter, and medical support on a referral basis.

116

This is a toll-free helpline for children, operated 24/7 by the Department of Children Services in partnership with Childline Kenya. It provides access to psychosocial support, including counselling, child therapy, and family therapy. Referrals can be made for specialised services such as medical care, safe shelter, legal aid, educational support, family reunification, and reintegration.

Grassroots activists and human rights monitors

There are community members who passionately advocate the protection of vulnerable individuals, including boys. They speak in churches, at chief’s meetings, and on vernacular radio stations. Often trained as paralegals by civil society organisations, they can offer guidance on the best course of action in cases of violence. They are also trained in confidentiality and documenting cases of gender-based violence. Since they work in coordination with the police, they can facilitate the rescue of survivors once notified.

Nyumba Kumi members, chiefs, and police

Nyumba Kumi members, chiefs, and sub-chiefs are the closest administrative authorities in Kenyan villages. Cases of SGBV should be reported to them for immediate action. Seeking their help is crucial instead of suffering in silence. They play a key role in not only rescuing survivors but also preserving evidence necessary for successful prosecution. It is through these local authorities that survivors can be placed in shelters and safe houses. Seeking their assistance can be life-saving.

Gender desks at police stations

Many police stations now have dedicated gender desks. There has been an increasing effort by civil society and the government to train officers at these desks to handle survivors with respect, empathy, and dignity. If you are afraid to report, you may be denying yourself justice and the right to reclaim your dignity.

Gender Violence Recovery Centres (GVRCs)

GVRCs provide medical treatment, including Post-Exposure Prophylaxis emergency contraceptives for women and girls, specialised treatment for conditions such as incontinence and fistula, and Hepatitis B vaccination. They also offer psychosocial support to survivors.

These centres are available in:

• Centre for Assault and Recovery in Eldoret (CARE), situated in Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.
• Coast General Hospital Recovery Centre.
• Kenyatta National Hospital GBVRC.
• Taita Taveta District Hospital GBVRC.
• Biafra Clinic in Eastleigh, Nairobi.
• Makueni County Hospital GBVRC.
• Kisii Level 5 Hospital GBVRC.
• Kenyenya Sub-County Hospital GBVRC.
• Eldama-Ravine Sub-County Hospital GBVRC.
• Homa Bay County Referral Hospital GBVRC.
• Makongeni Sub-County Hospital GBVRC.
• Samburu County Referral Hospital GBVRC.
• Kwale County Referral Hospital GBVRC.

mobiria@ke.nationmedia.com