Ujamaa Africa equiping 116 Kisumu West teachers to curb violence

At least 116 teachers from Kisumu West Sub-county are undergoing specialised training aimed at reducing cases of sexual and physical violence in schools, curbing teenage pregnancies and improving learner retention.

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The training, being held in Ojola, brings together educators from 50 selected primary and secondary schools. It is part of Ujamaa Africa’s Empowerment Transformational Training (ETT) programme.

The initiative equips teachers with skills to mentor and protect learners, with a strong focus on girls’ empowerment, self-defence training and engaging boys as allies in preventing violence.

Speaking during the training, Habakkuk Ochieng Oduko, team lead and ETT specialist at Ujamaa Africa, said the organisation selected Kisumu West as a starting point due to high reported cases of sexual and physical abuse, school dropouts among girls and rising teenage pregnancies.

“We have realised that Kisumu West records high cases of sexual violence, physical abuse and teenage pregnancies. Our goal is to see a reduction in these cases and to retain more learners in school,” he said.

Under the programme, each participating school selects two teacher champions, one male and one female, who undergo intensive training.

These teachers are then tasked with implementing the programme within their schools.

The training model includes the formation of 11 clusters across Kisumu West Sub-county. Each cluster comprises between three and seven schools located within close proximity to support peer learning, monitor progress and sustain the programme.

“We monitor implementation at cluster level. The clusters help schools assess the programme, share experiences and ensure sustainability. Together with trainers of trainers, we provide materials and continuous support to measure impact,” Oduko said.

The 50 selected schools will serve as a baseline as the organisation plans to scale up the programme to other sub-counties within Kisumu County.

The initiative targets both girls and boys. While girls receive empowerment and self-defence training to build confidence and resilience, boys are engaged through mentorship programmes that promote positive masculinity and responsible behaviour.

According to Ujamaa Africa, the programme has shown positive results in other counties where it has been implemented, including reduced absenteeism and improved school attendance.

“With support from the Ministry of Education and the Teachers Service Commission, we expect to see learners staying in school and attending classes consistently,” Oduko added.

The organisation projects that within six months, Kisumu West will record a noticeable decline in cases of school-related violence and teenage pregnancies, alongside improved attendance rates.

Ujamaa Africa, a non-governmental organisation registered in 2010, focuses on preventing violence against women and children.

The organisation currently operates in 14 counties in Kenya, including Vihiga, Kakamega, Homa Bay, Migori, Machakos, Nairobi and Kitui. It also runs programmes in Somaliland, South Sudan and Malawi.

Teachers said they were optimistic that the new skills would help create safer school environments and encourage learners to speak up against abuse.

If successful, the Kisumu West rollout could serve as a model for wider county-level implementation, offering hope for safer learning spaces and improved educational outcomes.