By Sally Sue

Nairobi - What greater gift just before the Valentines Day to see men walk one mile in a woman’s shoes? To have a large crowd of men walking in red and handing out red roses to raise awareness about gender issues? This year’s event will be held in Nairobi on February 14th, at the Young Womens Christian Association (Hall YWCA).

The V-Day event will then fade into a play where women talk about the VAGINA through poetry, spoken word and songs. They will also have a candle light memorial to remember everyone to respect the women in their lives. This all culminates into an 11 minute highlight, Turning Pain into Power.

They want to reach men, women, children….the organization aims to create a V-Movement which is unstoppable.
“We want to create....V-Warriors....to have a Vision.... V-Day is an organized response against violence against women....”

Moses Okoth is helping co-ordinate this year’s event. He was especially moved by the violence experienced by women during the post-election violence, and it is in its troubling aftermath that he made a new friend who challenged him to create a movement for men that actioned the emotions he was feeling.

“That was what sparked me off! I have since then been able to do my third TVM (The Vagina Monologues) and this is my first V-Men here in Kenya ....just had the founder, Eve Ensler, and the V-Board visiting projects that I am involved in that  promote women’s rights!”

So what drove him to get involved as a man.

“Difficult and sensitive question.....well....Vagina?.....90% of ALL the violence women face.....are brought about men.....women feel that they should just tell this to women and so men also feel that it’s no use letting and having a platform to share with the ‘weaker sex’. I felt I have a mother....a daughter....a sister a.....few girls that mentor me and vice versa.....and so being a man  doesn’t  make  you any more superior....that’s why I felt that I have to do this event...being and  doing it as a man has been difficult but we are making the point!”

Moses believes there is not enough being done to help curb gender violence against women in Kenya. He points out that there are no structures in place to help with this cause, and that there aren’t enough people with the ‘HEART and STRENGTH’ to do it.

“One of my mentors, Dr. Dennis Mukegwe, who runs a Hospital in the DRC is one of those men who has fought to change the perceptions of men in the Congo, a place where rape is used as a weapon. He has fought tooth and nail to make sure that there is awareness....there is justice and that women are looked at not just as sex objects but as human beings....if Kenya followed in the same path, we would have a great number of seats in parliament  given to women.”

“Whatever you give a woman......she'll make greater. If you give her a house she'll give you a home.....if you give her groceries she'll give you a meal......if you give her a smile she'll give you a heart. She multiplies and enlarges whatever you have given to her…..so if you give her any crap be ready to receive a ton of SHIT!”

Moses is currently involved in a project called The V-girls; it is part of the V-Men movement in Kenya.

“I am involved in the Sons of Africa Sanitary Towel project where we hope to fundraise for sanitary towels’ we engage men. I am  also involved in the Walk a Mile In Her  Shoes, which is an international event for men aimed to help stop gender violence. I am also involved in Stronger Girls Stronger Women Movement...and a great deal of other initiatives that seek to address the rights of Women and girls.

“Be there,...say  something special to women during this V-season which is here upon us. Put yourself in your women’s shoes. We can stop rape, we can change the way we treat our women!”