PWANI MEDIA NETWORK (K)

By PETER KOMBE A section of county activists in Mombasa have vowed to embrace the Building Bridges Initiative should it address youth matters According to the lobbyists youth form the larger part of the Kenyan population and there is need to factor in their concerns. Speaking to the media in Mombasa Tuesday, Mombasa Youth Activist Ibrahim Jey says he will only embrace the report that will unite Kenyans and not catalyst of division. “Tunataka BBI inayotoa nafasi kwa viajana n haitakuwa na maana kama tripoti hiyo haitawaunganisha wakenya. We want a BBI that will factor in youth concerns. It will be a furtile document if it does not unite Kenyans,” said the activist. He further asked politicians to avoid hyping the political mood by fuelling political hatred amongst Kenyans He instead wants the political elites to focus more on their development agenda rather that engaging in early 2022 campaigns. “Peace is paramount. We want to see our leaders concentrating on development and n

By PETER KOMBE Youths in Kilifi County have asked the county government to develop clear guidelines on menstrual hygiene terming it a critical challenge to most of the youths. They youths are also calling on for the domestication of the menstrual hygiene in a bid to address the challenges facing young and adolescent girls within the county. Among the challenges cited include among other limited county budget to ensure schools have gender friendly WASH facilities. “There I inadequate or no menstrual waste disposal options such as bins or incinerators, one of the youths who spoke on condition of anonymity said. The source further states that there is need for the county government to engage youths fully and meaningfully At the same time Connect to retain programs officer Kenfaith Karuta says a recent finding indicates that Kilifi County has witnessed an upsurge of sexually active young girls aged 9 years and above. “As an organisation we are coming up with evidence based interven

By PETER KOMBE Tunaweza persons with disability in partnership with affordable and Accessible Sanitation for Women have donated over 500 Reusable sanitary towels in Baringo County. The initiative is aimed at marking the International Day of the Girl Child this year. Speaking to the media in Mombasa, Tunaweza Persons with Disability Charity Chahasi said the program has targeted young girls aged between 9 -17 years in remote parts of Baringo County. According to Chahasi most of these have fallen victims of defilement and rape due to ravaging poverty. “Their parents can hardly buy them the ordinary sanitary pads. The pads that we give them are durable as they take long over three years,” she noted She adds that some of the girls get pregnant at an early age and therefore the need to assist them. According to her, some of the girls end up committing suicide. Meanwhile, Lucy Chesi the deputy director said lack of sanitary pads to the girls takes away the girls dignity. The hash tag for th

Colllaboration of Women In Development lobbysts Tom Ng'ar at a recent function. Image (Courtesy) By PETER KOMBE Lobbyists in Mombasa county working on gender based violence in Mombasa County have raised concern on the insufficiency of safe houses for victims of sexual gender based violence. SGBV According to the lobbyists of all the 47 counties, only one county has erected ample safe houses for sexually abused victims. Speaking to the media In Mombasa during    a review meeting for Ending Double Tragedy project in a Mombasa hotel, Collaboration on Women in Development Executive Director Batty Sharon said SGBV cases of became rampant during the lockdown period due to the stay at home order by government. According to her the government provide all the essential services during the covid19 period and left out some of the basic including delivery of services to sexually violated victims. “The government concentrated on other essential services such as water, foodstuff among

  Tunaweza CBO Executive director Charity Chahasi (with crutches) flanked by young girls in Mombasa county. Image. MWARANDU KOMBE By VINCENT MANGARO Tunaweza Women With Disability a Mombasa based Community based organization has distributed more than 8000 reusable sanitary towels in various counties throughout the country for the past seven months. Some of these counties include among others Mombasa, Kwale, Nairobi, Migori, Busia, Bungoma, Uasin Gishu and Tana River counties. The initiative is aimed at championing the rights of the rights of the girl child. The PWD’s led CBO also champions for the rights of the disabled community in Mombasa County. According to the organization executive director Charity Chahasi the unique reusable sanitary towels have impacted the lives of thousands of girls in this region by keeping them stay safe from perpetrators. She asked various stakeholders including well-wishers, business people activists to join the CBO in supporting our girls in th