Passaris joined hundreds of Kenyans in a silent protest march, to create more awareness on sexual and gender based violence.
Passaris officially flags off the #SilentProtestMarchKenya beginning the #16DaysofActivism to end Sexual violence
Nairobi governor hopeful, Esther Passaris today lead hundreds of activists in a demonstration, to protest against the rising cases of sexual and gender based violence.
The annual march hopes to promote more debate on Gender Based Violence (GBV), by creating more avenues where sexual assault survivors can seek assistance and medication.
Under the hashtag #SilentProtestMarchKenya, and #16DaysofActivism, the adopt a light founder, posted tweets about the march before officially flagging off the #SilentProtestMarchKenya to end GBV.
The activists are demanding greater action by the Gender and Interior ministries in order to deter and stop violence against women.
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From 25 November to 10th December every year, the world marks 16 days of activism, where they campaign and join forces to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world.
The international campaign originated from the first Women's Global Leadership Institute coordinated by the Center for Women's Global Leadership in 1991.
The 2016 theme ‘the UNiTE campaign’ strongly emphasizes the need for sustainable financing, for efforts to end violence against women and girls towards the fulfilment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Nairobi silent protest will start at Uhuru Park’s Freedom Corner and end at Jevanjee Gardens, where they will conduct a rally.
The protest has been organised by the Nairobi City County and the Aids Healthcare Foundation.
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According to the Kenya Domestic Household Survey (KDHS) 2014, 38 percent of women aged 15-49 reported physical violence and 14 percent reported having experienced sexual violence.
Statistics indicate that in 2013, the Kenya Police Service received 3,596 defilement cases; 913 of rape; 242 of incest and 124 of sodomy.
GBV reared its ugly head on the month of August, in a horrific assault case which captured both local and international headlines. Jackline Mwende, a jobless housewife had both her hands chopped off by her husband of seven years for allegedly not able to sire children.
Passaris also received an outpouring of support following a live show incident, where Miguna Miguna, a fellow nairobi governor aspirant, told her “you are so beautiful everybody wants to rape you”
AHF project development manager, Faith Ndung’u has expressed concern over the increased number of cases of violence despite laws and policies.
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"The culture of silence is a great hindrance to tackling the problem,” Ndung’u said as quoted by the star.
In kenya, especially in rural areas it is not uncommon for defilement cases and GBV to be handled in ‘kienyeji manner’ where families meet under a tree and sip a pot of a local brew, then agree to solve the matter quietly by paying a small compensation under the guise of culture.
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