Utu Wetu was honoured this week to join Feminists for Peace, Rights and Justice Center at a graduation ceremony held at their community space in Kibera. The event brought together survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, sex workers, queer persons, and young men, each of whom had completed a training program on financial literacy and understanding gendered harm in our communities.
As an organisation rooted in advancing survivor-led justice and pushing for state accountability in addressing sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), we were glad to be part of this moment. The graduation is a reminder that justice is not only found in courtrooms. It must also be felt in the lives of people who rebuild from harm and find power in economic independence.
Sixteen individuals completed the program and received business toolkits to help them start or expand small businesses. These were not just items. They were tools to support the agency. They were part of a bigger response, one that links economic empowerment to healing and long-term safety.
At Utu Wetu, we continue to call attention to the failure of state systems to protect survivors and prevent violence. But we also believe in what communities can build while demanding justice. We are proud to stand with Feminists for Peace and others who are creating spaces where survivors are not only supported but also trusted to lead.
During the ceremony, Utu Wetu’s Communications Lead, Henix Obuchunju, joined in handing over business toolkits to the graduates. One of the gifts, a commercial blender, was given to a survivor who plans to start a small juice business in her neighbourhood. For her, and many others like her, this gift marks a new chapter, one where survival is not the end goal, but the beginning of building a life with stability and purpose.
These kinds of tools are practical steps toward financial independence and self-reliance. They help survivors reclaim control over their daily lives, make choices that suit their needs, and reduce dependence on exploitative systems or unsafe environments. We recognise that real justice includes access to income, to safety, and to platforms where voices are heard and believed.