It was during the long Christmas holiday and like many other Kenyans, she had planned to travel up country to join relatives and friends. In fact the only reason why she had not travelled earlier as had been tradition, is because she had to cast her vote.

Being a resident in one of the Nairobi Constituencies, and elections being on the 27th of December, it meant that she would only travel after the voting exercise. But what awaited Teresia Katia will remain etched in her mind like a bad dream, just like most bad dreams do.

Two years following the events of the post-election violence in Kenya, 35 year old Elizabeth Nduku who lives in Kibera was saved by the prompt action of her neighbors.

Gang raped in the presence of her husband and child, her life would have taken an even worse turn were it not for the support she received from those who knew her.

It was a unique and emotional moment when the women met in Mombasa and narrated their experiences over the 2007 post election violence.

A look on their faces reveals the bitterness and anger they have been endured after losing lives and property. And now the emotional battle ahead of them is how to handle the perpetrators they meet on almost a daily basis.

Beyond pain

As the post-election violence ranged on and scores of women sexually abused, a sizeable number of these women conceived and some carried the pregnancy to term. Two years have gone by and everyday these children grow bigger and soon some will begin to conceptualize what constitutes a ‘normal’ family.

There are those who will call out for ‘baba’ (father) and these women; survivors of hideous violations will continuously remember their nightmare even though the physical pain and injuries have long healed. Yet they will have no answer for their little one.

I’m still pregnant and HIV positive. None of my children know what their mother is dealing with at the moment, but the older ones can see that mum has undergone a major transformation. I need to sit them down; they need to hear the truth from me.

The news that I’m HIV positive is received with dread. They want to know whether am going to die and how soon. It breaks my heart. I reassure them that mum will be around for a long time and that all will be well. I don’t believe my optimism, but these are my children- my life, and for them I will feel whatever level of optimism that I can master.