On (March 3) the Kenyan Solidarity Walk kicked off in support of the Africa UNiTE Kilimanjaro Climb, which took place from March 5-9 and mobilized more than 74 climbers cross cut society–representatives of civil society, African governments, different UN entities, media and the private sector- to “climb-up and speak-out” against violence against women and girls in Africa and take specific commitments to action of their over 36 countries to the peak of the highest mountain of Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro.

The enthusiastic, colorful and musical walk was flagged off at Uhuru Park by the Regional Development Minister Fred Gumo and attended by over 700 people, women, men, girls and boys from all walks of life determined to raise their voices to speak out against violence against women and girls.

The Minister reiterated both the President and the Prime Minister strong commitment to end violence against women and girls in Kenya and stressed that gender based violence had no place in today’s society. This commitment was reaffirmed a Memorandum of Understanding agreed to by the Office of the Prime Minister on the government’s commitments based on the three pillars of the Africa UNiTE Campaign, namely prevention of violence against women and girls, provision of services to survivors of violence and promotion of justice and end impunity; the memo was presented by a survivor of violence.

A variety of stakeholders and representatives of civil society pointed out the high remaining prevalence of violence against women and girls in Kenya and shared some key advices on possible strategies to overcome violence against women and girls in the country.

The representative from UNFPA, Fidelis Zama Chi, stated that the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey of 2008/9 demonstrated that 39% of Kenyan women had experienced violence from the age of 15. “Ensuring men and boys, women and girls are engaged in prevention and response activities remain key to successful eradication of violence. Society needs changes which can only be brought about by men and women joining hands in full understanding and respect of one another,” he stated.