Figure 1: Mama Zipporah, member of Kwale Women of Faith Network, and champion on women issues in the county
In the heart of Lunga-Lunga sub-county, under the shade of frangipani trees at a community gathering in Pongwe, a humble yet fierce voice pierces the air. It is the voice of Mama Zipora Nyawera, a long-serving member of the Kwale Women of Faith Network. She doesn’t need a microphone to be heard; her truth carries through her words. “For years,” she begins, “our silence has been our prison. Today, we choose our voices. Today, we choose justice.”
Mama Zipora speaks not only for herself but for the many women in Kwale whose stories have been buried under layers of shame, fear, and systemic neglect. She is one of the women leaders trained by the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK) under its SGBV and women empowerment initiative, in partnership with the Kwale Women of Faith Network. The program has become a turning point for communities like hers, where cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) have risen sharply, fueled by poverty, cultural taboos, and lack of support systems.
The Awakening
Figure 2: Mama Zipporah engaging women at a maskani in Msambweni on appropriate referral pathways
“I used to think that suffering in silence was part of being a woman,” Mama Zipora confesses. “When I was younger, no one talked about abuse. If your husband beat you, you were told to pray more. If your daughter was raped, you were told to keep it quiet to protect her future.”
The story changed when the Women of Faith Network began community outreaches and empowerment drives across Lunga-Lunga. Through open days, interfaith dialogues, and training sessions facilitated by IRCK and its partners, women began to rediscover their agency. Mama Zipora learned about the legal rights of women, the structures for reporting abuse, and the power of psychosocial support. But more importantly, she learned she was not alone.
“I remember my first session. I cried, not because I was sad, but because I was finally seen,” she recalls.
Bridging Justice with Faith
Figure 3: Mama Zipporah with fellow women of faith in advocacy efforts to call for an end to SGBV in the county
The unique aspect of this initiative is how it integrates faith and justice. Religious leaders, imams, pastors, nuns; have been instrumental in addressing cultural stereotypes that perpetuate violence against women. Sermons now include teachings on human dignity, protection of the vulnerable, and the sacredness of life. “Our faith is no longer used to silence us,” says Mama Zipora. “It is now the reason we speak.”
During the recent SGBV community outreach at Pongwe Social Hall, women received cervical and breast cancer screenings, engaged in open conversations on health-seeking behavior, and took part in sessions on positive parenting. Health professionals and local administrators joined hands with religious leaders to ensure the message was clear, there is no room for violence in homes, markets, churches, or mosques.
A New Chapter
The impact of these interventions is tangible. More women are reporting abuse. The stigma is slowly being stripped away. Referrals to protection services have increased. The community is beginning to understand that SGBV is not a private issue, it is a public injustice.
In her closing remarks at the Open Day, Mama Zippora stood beside women from different faiths and said: “We are not just survivors. We are guardians of this generation and the next. And we will not stop until every woman in Kwale walks freely, speaks loudly, and lives with dignity.”
The Road Ahead
While great strides have been made, challenges persist. Underreporting remains a concern, and access to legal and psychosocial services is limited in remote areas. The Women of Faith Network has submitted a memorandum to the Technical Working Group on GBV and Femicide, calling for budget allocation to GBV rescue centers, legal aid for survivors, and capacity building for law enforcement on handling SGBV cases with sensitivity and speed.
The story of Kwale’s women is still unfolding, but the narrative has changed. No longer defined by fear, their voices now speak of justice, healing, and hope. And at the heart of it all stands Mama Zippora, a woman of faith, and a trailblazer. “This is not just a project,” she says. “It is our rebirth.”
“When faith and justice walk hand in hand, no voice remains unheard, no wound stays hidden, and no woman stands alone.” — Mama Zipora Nyawera
