The Church has vowed to step up its campaign against gender violence among its ranks.

Speaking at a forum organized by the Fellowship of Christian Council and Churches in the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa (FECCLAHA), a section of the clergy called on the members not to condone or give refuge to perpetrators in the church.

She urged the Church to be more responsive in seeking to address gender-based violence, especially with increased incidences of defilement and rapes meted on elderly women and the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the society.

Canon Rev. Grace Kaiso, Chairperson of FECCLAHA, said the Church needs to realize that she is a part of a society that is living with violence, therefore calling for reflections on strategies that will meet the needs of the whole society.

“The Church needs to realize that she is a part of a context that is living with violence, therefore calling for reflections on strategies that will meet the needs of the whole society”, she said.

Rev. Fred Nyabera, Executive Director of FECCLAHA, acknowledged that violence is prevalent and something that is not unique to Africa.

According to Rev Nyabera there was need to come up mechanisms to prevent the widespread gender-based violence in the region, FECCLAHA is heading a movement dubbed the ‘Tamar Campaign.’

Rev. Nyabera said that the since the church was the most trusted institution it was necessary for the church to add its voice to the spread of gender based violence.

Launched in 2005, the Tamar Campaign is a response to the absence and the silence of the Church in addressing gender-based violence in Kenya and within the region.

The primary objective of the Campaign is to equip and challenge the Church to speak out against gender-based violence.

Participants at the forum also noted that there was need for the Church to address gender-based violence from a preventive point of view. This will involve focusing on the family unit in raising awareness against this vice.

Pastor Charles Ng’ang’a of Mamlaka Hill Chapel asserted that the Church must continue to play this vital role in developing whole individuals.

He added that since the church was one of the most trusted institutions there was need for proactive approaches in preventing the vice from spreading.

He noted that the church must come up with strategies to address to address the root of the problem through nurturing all of society to be free of violence.

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