The Mwangaza Gender-Based Rescue and Resource Center has received a major boost after Meru County MP Hon. Bishop Kawira Mwangaza approached CS Prof. Margaret Kobia for funding. Following successful negotiations, the CS donated Sh1M, which she intends to use to install a transformer that will benefit the entire community and the Center.
Speaking at the center while inspecting ongoing costruction works, Kawira said that she also approached the ministry of ICT and asked them to connect the center to fiber internet so that children in the community who cannot afford bundles can visit the center and use the internet to look for job opportunities without being charged.
“I’m thankful to God today because of the Mwangaza gender-based violence resource and rescue center’s project. It was my vision from a long time ago, and I looked for this land and had difficulty finding it. Those who gave us the land thought we would not construct a building on it because of its swampy nature,” said Kawira.
“We are nearing the end of the construction process. When you take a look inside the center, you’ll notice a kitchen and that we’re about to dig a borehole. The fact that the electrical connection to the center is about to be witnessed has made me happy,” she said.
According to Kawira, the solar system wasn’t helpful to the center and it is the reason she paid a visit to CS Prof Kobia’s office.
“I am pleased for the KPLC team because they have not been hesitant in their work and have accelerated the process to ensure that the center is connected to electricity. The community will in the next two weeks be connected to electricity, and I thank all Meru County residents for giving me the opportunity to work for them,” she said.
“I am grateful to the people of Meru County for praying for me and enabling me to overcome my obstacles. The majority of people are unaware of the need for this facility, known as the Meru Mwangaza GBV rescue and resource center. When I visited the mashinani, I met battered women and children who had been abused by their uncles,” she said.
“My plans for this center were to provide shelter for victims of gender-based violence who have nowhere to go after being abused by their relatives. The center will be a place where victims can seek counseling. There will be lawyers on hand to assist victims with their court cases,” she said.
Kawira said that in addition, the center will house a panel of lawyers who will provide guidance and counseling to those who have been oppressed while their pending court cases are resolved.
“A child was raped by a relative in one incident. Because the relative was released on bail, he had to return to the community where she had to see him on a regular basis,” she said.
“The victims are at risk of being abused again by their relatives, which is why I decided that Meru County needed a center like this one to house the abused child so she wouldn’t have to return to the community. The victims will be given psychological assistance,” she said.
According to Kawira, in the meantime, she will look for a boarding school for the victim to attend. She said the center will help victims of domestic violence.
“I thank God and the people of Meru County for giving me the opportunity to work for them. Hon. Bishop Kawira Mwangaza is the only woman in Kenya to have built the center which is one of its kind. It is for this reason that Kawira Mwangaza was awarded the prize for the best performing Woman Representative in Kenya for properly utilizing the resources allocatted to her office,” she said.
Kawira said that residents would set up barber shops, salons, and welding shops once the community was connected to power, and the community would grow.
“Another thing I’d like to ask our president when he comes is that the land in the center of the map is shown as sitting on a 10-acre farm. However, when we requested the land, we were only given three acres, which were insufficient to accommodate all of the development projects that we planned to be built on this site,” she said.
Kawira said that If was unable to complete all of the development projects in the area, they would be transferred to another community.
“I also urge the leaders in the community to intervene and request for more land so that we can have many factories set up in this area and our children can benefit from the opportunities. Aside from connecting the center to electricity, I’ve also brought a tractor to help with construction works in this area,” she said.
“Because of the swampy nature of the land, no one expected a building to be built on it in the beginning. However, I was able to complete the construction of the center as well as two other buildings that are currently under construction. I anticipate that all construction projects will be finished by the end of the year,” she said.
“Building materials such as ballast and sand have been delivered to the center in sufficient quantities to ensure that the construction is completed. A borehole and a kitchen are still being built, and the kitchen will be used to prepare food for those working in the center,” she said.
According to Kawira, her office was able to complete the construction work of the center, educate children, purchase water tanks, enroll students on scholarships in different schools, purchase lockers, tents, and desks, and dress the children with disabilities with the limited funds that my office receives.
Kawira said that she was able to utilize the small amount of money her office received to make it appear as if she received a lot of money. She said, however, it is because she was able to manage it.
Kawira thanked the Meru County residents for giving her the opportunity to lead them and that she was looking forward to becoming Governor of Meru County.
