As the August 9 polls draw near, rights groups are on the ground working to make sure that there is no violence, as is common after elections in Kenya.
One such group, Boxgirls Kenya, has been carrying out a peace campaign across parts of Nairobi.
Their campaign dubbed ‘Tusikubali Kurudi Back’ aims to remind Kenyans of the horrors the country endured after the 2007-2008 post-election violence.
Florence Otieno, the Programmes Manager at Boxgirls, said that the campaign aims to urge Kenyans not to take the country back to such dark times.
“Boxgirls actually started in 2007 after the post-election violence teaching girls how to box and defend themselves. That period saw many girls and young women were sexually violated and left traumatized,” she said.
She said their biggest message to Kenyans is to protect women and girls from such violations of their rights and keep the peace.
Florence said many survivors of sexual gender-based violence from the 2007 post-election violence and subsequent election years, are still living with the trauma.
“We don’t want our girls to go back to such pain. Peaceful communities are thriving communities,” she concluded.
They have been showcasing their boxing skills while engaging the public on the importance of maintaining peace during this election period.
They call it Punching for Peace.
Boxgirls has so far conducted peaceful demonstrations in Nairobi’s Kayole, Dandora, Korogocho, Kibera, Umoja, the Central Business District, Huruma and Mathare areas.
