World Vision Kenya Rapid Protection Assessment – FINAL_ Internal

Introduction

World Vision carried out a rapid protection assessment in Lakes region, North Rift Valley region
and Nairobi from 20-26th February. The objectives of the assessment were:
1. To identify the key protection concerns for women, children and vulnerable groups in
the camps and to recommend immediate interventions
2. To ascertain which protection issues will present an on going threat in peoples’ lives
and to recommend appropriate long term programming
The assessment covered camps and communities in the Lakes region (Koru Police Station camp,
Chief’s camp, Bible Society of Kenya ‘transit’ camp and Manyata slum area), camps in the North
Rift Valley region (Burnt Forest camp in Uasin Gishu and Noigam camp in Trans Nzoia), and
Mathare Chief’s camp in Nairobi zone.

Key findings and recommendations

1. A number of protection concerns are arising during and following the distribution of
food and non-food items. Concerns included discrimination in distribution by camp
committees, lack of complaints mechanisms for IDPs and lack of adequate monitoring
and follow up. It is recommended that World Vision follow minimum protection
standards for food and non-food items (attached). This should include distribution
monitors to work with the Red Cross during the distribution of all World Vision items;
distribution monitors follow up with vulnerable groups following distributions and the
establishment of a complaints mechanism for feedback from the community.

2. Girls as young as 13 years old are reportedly engaging in sex for cash in order to obtain
basic food and non-food items. This is apparently a result of not being reached in
distributions, and these girls are particularly vulnerable as they are from the poorest
families in the camps. It is recommended that World Vision work with Red Cross to
target distribution of sanitary towels and underwear at girls between 12-20 years and
at the same time provide an education session and research the motivations for
engaging in sexual relations with police officers and members of the surrounding
community. Continued interventions to work with this vulnerable group should be
considered a priority.

3. In all camps visited there is a lack of support for children in the camp in terms of play
equipment and counselling support. It is recommended that Child Friendly Spaces are
established as soon as possible in all visited locations, and that contracted counselling
support is targeted at the CFS and the women groups in camps.

4. A number of IDPs, especially in Lakes region, are relocating to ancestral lands and
others are beginning to return. It is recommended that World Vision Kenya does not get
involved in transportation or publicly support the relocation process. This is a
controversial process that may be impinging on the voluntariness of return and the
right to safe and durable return. World Vision can and should advocate strongly for the
rights of the IDPs to be respected in any return or relocation process emphasising the
safety and voluntariness of the return.

5. Focus group discussions in Manyatta slum in Kisumu suggest there is a continued risk of
further displacement, as tensions in the slum areas remain high. Women and youth
reported an increase in violence, especially perpetrated by young men. It is
recommended that World Vision continue to target relief operations in the slum areas
of Kisumu and provide protection and peace building programming. Child friendly
spaces, youth programming and establishment of women’s meetings should be

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 encouraged to address rising violence against women and children in these areas.
Further research is required to explore whether this situation is replicated in other
slum areas.

I. Lakes Region

a) Displacement profile

There are two main categories of displaced persons in the Lakes region. The first is comprised
of those originally displaced by the violence with no identified solutions in terms of return or
relocation. There are three main locations within Kisumu where IDPs are currently staying:
Kondele Police Station (2 families), Koru Police station (160 persons), Ebenezer (25 families).
During this assessment World Vision visited Koru police camp where there are 33 families with
nearly a third of the displaced being children.

The second larger group is comprised of those that have decided to relocate to Kisumu and
surrounding areas and are in transit camps awaiting either identification of places to live or
transportation to identified homes. Those in transit are staying temporarily in Moi Stadium and
the Bible Society of Kenya transit camp. There are also smaller groups of relocating displaced
persons located across the area, for example a new group of 32 persons arrived at the East
Manara DO office on 12 February (4 men, 10 women and 18 children). They are currently
sleeping in the DO office, as they have not identified where to return to. The main destination
areas for those displaced persons relocating to ancestral homes include: Siqya, Vihiya,
Kakameya, Nyando and Kisumu. At the end of February approximately 11,000 IDPs had
relocated to ancestral homes through Kisumu1. During this assessment World Vision visited the
Manara DO office camp and the Bible Society of Kenya transit camp.

There are six main slum areas in and around Kisumu: Manyatta, Bandani, Kaloleni, Nyelenda,
Obunge, Nyaunitta. The slum areas have been necessarily considered in the response activities
as a lot of the violence erupted in the slums affecting the livelihoods and safety of families and
individuals living there. Distributions have included slum areas, and interventions are urgently
required with youth and the wider community to prevent the outbreak of further violence and
further displacement. During this assessment World Vision visited Manyatta slum.

b) Access to essential services

Koru Police Camp

There is insufficient shelter for the 160 persons staying at this camp. They currently have
tarpaulins that are being shared by up to 10 persons. There is an urgent need for tents,
especially as the children reported that when there is not enough room they are required to
sleep outside the shelter. Women and children are still wearing the same clothes they left their
homes in, and there has not yet been any distribution of sanitary towels and underwear for
women and girls. They are short of food, and in particular supplementary feeding is required
for the children. Maize has been distributed but the women don’t have the means to make it
into maize meal. Health services have been provided by MSF and KRCS on an ad hoc basis, as
there is no clinic at the site.

Chief’s Camp at the DO Office

There are 32 persons staying at the DO office and most of them are women and children. They
are using the DO office to sleep at night and have no shelter or personal space during the day.
If they are going to be staying in this location for any period of time they will need tents to be
set up. They have received some food from the government when they first arrived but have

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OCHA situation update 23-27th February
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had nothing since. They also require non-food items including underwear and sanitary
materials. Merlin has provided health services through a mobile clinic.

Bible Society of Kenya ‘transit’ camp

Food and NFI needs are largely covered. The displaced have mosquito nets, clothing and basic
food items.

Manyatta slum
In the slum areas there is a lot of need for food and basic necessities due to the fact that many
lost jobs and possessions during the violence, however, distribution of food and NFI has caused
considerable disruption and violence. In one instance the distribution had to be stopped. WFP
and partners are very concerned regarding how to move forward with the distributions in these
areas.

Recommended immediate action

• Provision of tents for the IDPs at Koru police station and Chief’s camp (approximately
40 tents required from Nairobi)
• Distribution of sanitary materials and underwear at Koru police camp and Chief’s camp
• Establishment of a CFS at Koru police station camp (materials to be sent as soon as
possible to Kisumu office)
• Assignment of an intern / staff member to act as a protection point person for at least
one month

Recommended longer term interventions

• Continue to engage in discussions with WFP and partners regarding the distributions in
slum areas. Ensure that the distributions planned meet minimum standards including:
clear guidance on how much individuals or families are entitled to and provision of a
complaints mechanism for people to express concerns in a non-violent way.

c) Concerns for children

Koru Police Camp

Returning to education is the primary concern for both mothers and children in Koru police
station camp. The children cannot leave the camp for security reasons and there are no school
or education materials at the camp. There were no identified separated children in Koru camp,
however, children lack play facilities and activities to keep them busy during the day.

Bible Society of Kenya ‘transit’ camp

At the transit camps there have been a number of separated children that have been taken to
orphanages, organised through the children’s ministry.

Recommended immediate action

• Share the assessment findings with UNICEF education staff and discuss possible
education tent in Koru camp
• Children in Emergencies Officer to visit Kisumu as a top priority to work with the intern
/ staff member on establishment of the CFS and addressing the education issues with
UNICEF and the government

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 d) Physical safety

Koru Police Camp

The women and children report that it is safe within the camp due to the police presence,
however, there is fear of moving outside the camp and there are continued threats from the
surrounding communities. Of particular concern the water point is outside the camp area and
the children are harassed and threatened when they go to collect water. The children reported
masked men threatening them and telling them to leave the area. They now only go to collect
water in groups and girls do not go to collect water alone. There are new pit latrines being dug
but the holes are currently open and the children themselves said they were scared of falling in
the holes as they are near their play area.

Chief’s Camp at the DO Office

The camp at the DO office has no protection as it is not policed at night and there is no fencing
for the area. The group is largely comprised of women and children and therefore more
vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. Ultimately the site is an unsuitable location for a camp.
Although the displaced here are Luo and therefore unlikely to be targets of violence or
harassment from the surrounding community, they are vulnerable to children being abducted
for labour and women without any support are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.

Manyatta slum
In the Manyatta slum the safety situation has deteriorated rapidly since the violence. There are
reports of girls being raped and community members being attacked. This is particularly when
children are unaccompanied travelling to school, at night, and when community members walk
around with any goods or shopping. The women talked of the unemployed youth taking
advantage of the disruptions to abuse and harass women and girls in the community.

Recommended immediate action

• Cover the pit latrines at Koru camp
• Discuss with the children and adults mechanisms to ensure that children are safe when
collecting water at Koru camp (if not possible explore the possibility of providing a tank
or water bowsers in the camp compound)
• Follow up with focus group discussions and individual interviews with the women and
children at DO Chief’s camp to identify durable solutions

Recommended longer term interventions

• Establish women’s meetings in the Manyata slum area to discuss community responses
to the increasing levels of violence in the area (in particular how the community can
ensure the safety of children)
• Establish a CFS in the slum area to serve the children affected by the violence
• Establish youth activity programs aimed at idle youth in the slum area

e) Gender-based violence (GBV)

There was no reported GBV in the Koru police station, DO office camp or transit camps. In
Manyatta slum there is an escalation of GBV and women reported that the communities are not
aware of how to respond to rape cases. There have been delays in reporting and responding
medically to the rape of girls since the violence.

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Recommended longer term interventions
• At the women’s meetings in the slums provide information on the response and referral
mechanisms for women victims of GBV

f) Groups with specific needs

In the transit areas it was reported that there are a few elderly that have been separated from
their families and have no place to go to. There is likely to be increases in the number of
vulnerable individuals that have been left behind and lost during the displacement process, and
currently there is very little follow up and services provided for these individuals.

Recommended longer term interventions

• Advocate for the consideration of vulnerable groups in interagency meetings and share
the report findings with agencies that specifically support the elderly.

g) Psycho-social concerns

C-MEDA and Kisumu Urban Apostolate Programme (KUAP) are providing psychosocial support in
Kisumu as part of a consortium that started support programming week commencing 18
February. From the first week they report that the need is far in excess of their capacity, in
addition they had overlooked support required for teachers in addition to the support they are
providing for children. To date, there has been no psycho-social support offered to the
displaced at Koru police station, the DO office or in Manyatta slum area.

Recommended longer term interventions

• Include Kisumu locations in the contract to obtain counsellors to work with children and
families
• Ensure that all counsellors contracted by World Vision have up-to-date qualifications
and have signed an agreement that states that they understand and agree to comply
with the IASC Guidelines on Psycho-social interventions and the government post-
conflict guidelines

h) Durable Solutions

Koru Police Camp

In Koru Police camp 40 of 160 the displaced have identified places that they want to move to
and they are only waiting for transportation assistance. However, the remaining 120 have no
where to go and so believe they will stay in the camp until they are able to return to their
homes. They reported contact with neighbours and friends from their home areas that will tell
them when it is safe to return. If they stay in the camp for a longer period of time considerable
improvement of basic services will be necessary.

Chief’s Camp at the DO Office

The families at the DO office arrived back in Kisumu to travel back to ancestral land, however,
most of them are not clear where the land is and they are waiting for their husbands / male
partners to join them before they move. To date no partners have arrived and there is no other
indication as to where land and extended family may be located. Members of the community

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do not recognise the displaced or their family names. In-depth interviews will need to take
place with these families to discuss durable solutions with them. In the short term it may be
possible to move them to a consolidated camp area. According to the DO, there may be some
difficulty locating them with other displaced from different tribes.

Recommended immediate action

• Follow up with focus group discussions and individual interviews with women and
children at the DO’s chief’s camp to identify durable solutions for this group.

Recommended longer term interventions

• It is recommended that World Vision Kenya does not get involved in transportation or
publicly support the relocation process. This is a controversial process that may be
impinging on the voluntariness of return and the right to safe and durable return. World
Vision can and should advocate strongly for the rights of the IDPs to be respected in any
return or relocation process emphasising the safety and voluntariness of the return.
• World Vision proactively monitors the return/relocation process and gathers
information on the situation in communities of return/relocation to inform advocacy
and programming

II. North Rift region

a) Displacement Profile

The camps in north rift valley region are largely serving those that were displaced by the post-
election violence. There are no large ‘transit’ camps for IDPs returning to ancestral homes. In
Uasin Gishu district (including Eldoret) there are 17 camps containing 31,189 IDPs2. The largest
camps are PCEA Munyaka, Matharu centre, Burnt Forest and ASK Showground, others may
contain only one or two families. In Trans Nzoia district there are 27 camps containing 41,424
IDPs3. The largest camps are Naigum police station, Endebes DO Office Noigam and Makutano
Kapsara. There are plans to consolidate the camps into one or two locations per district.
Currently proposed consolidation camps for Uasin Gishu district are: PCEA Munyaka, Matharu
centre and Burnt Forest. It is suggested that ASK Showground camp will have to be closed as it
becomes flooded during the rainy season. Currently proposed consolidation camps for Trans
Nzoia district are: Naigum police station and Kitale Showground. There are still newly displaced
families arriving at IDP camps, for example at Kesogon there have been 82 new arrivals in the
last 2 days (24 and 25 Feb).

During this assessment World Vision visited Noigam Camp, Kesogon church camp and Burnt
Forest camp.

Recommended longer term interventions

• World Vision staffs contribute to the discussion regarding the proposed location of
consolidation camps and ensure that any longer term programming for the IDPs takes
account of the planned changes.

b) Access to essential services

2
UNHCR Eldoret, IDP camps tally as at 20.02.2008
3
UNHCR Eldoret, IDP camps tally as at 20.02.2008
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Noigam Camp
There is considerable concern regarding the equitable distribution of food and non-food items.
Women do not trust the committees responsible for the distributions and claim that only the
leaders get the food and NFI. There are women representatives on the camp committee but
they are too scared to speak out about discrimination. There are some villages that have been
missed by distributions to date (mentioned villages included Kiptoi Seum, Mwangaza, Kasarani
and Kuku 2) and the IDPs living in the community are also said to have been excluded.
Complaints have been made to KCRS, the DO and village elders. According to an IDP
representative they are aware that some villages have not received food and that they are
waiting for more food to arrive. The women also believe that there has been no consideration
of the needs of specific groups including the elderly and single women.

Burnt Forest Camp

While there is reportedly plenty of food and NFI according to the camp figures there are many
that do not receive their entitlements. This is reportedly because the camp committee decides
who will receive what, and most of the distribution goes to the rich members of the
community. As a result the women said that some of the girls from the poorer families are
selling sex for cash to be able to get food and NFI. Some of the women have tried to complain
and they have been taken to the police station, in one case they reported that someone was
whipped at the police station and they believed it was in connection to a complaint being
made. As a result the women feel there is no where for them to go with their complaints, and
reportedly there is no NGO there to monitor when food is being distributed.

Recommended immediate action

• Share the assessment findings with KRCS, UNICEF and UNHCR and urgently discuss
appropriate response to the distribution problems and in particular to the reported
sex-for-cash
• Suggested World Vision contribution to addressing the distribution problems: a World
Vision monitor on site to witness distributions whenever WV items are being given
out; the monitor to carry out checks following the distributions with the vulnerable
groups; adherence to World Vision minimum protection standards for distribution.
• Immediate action required to address sex-for-cash allegations (see section on
physical safety)

c) Concerns for children

Noigam
The education of children is compromised in the camp because: IDP children feel discriminated
against at the nearby school; children do not have uniforms; there are not enough teachers and
facilities for all the children; and some secondary school children have to travel a long way to
school which discourages attendance. There is no kindergarten and several children, comprising
under 5’s and those not attending school, that are idle during the day. In addition there are
adolescent girls that cannot afford school fees that are idle in the camp and the women are
concerned for their safety as they get bored and move further from the camp during the day.

UNICEF has sent tents to the camp for the establishment of more classes for IDPs and these are
due to be established in the next few days. There is an area behind the clinic, which has been
identified as a good location for a CFS, and the Geta DO representing the IDPs has agreed with
the location.

Burnt Forest Camp

Most children seem to be accessing school, however there are those that refuse to go. There is
no place to play for children under 5 years.

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Recommended immediate action
• Establish a Child Friendly Space in Noigam camp behind the clinic
• Children in Emergencies expert to visit Noigam to assist in the training of volunteers
and camp residents to manage the CFS and to discuss the education issues with UNICEF
• Discuss the location of a CFS in Burnt Forest once the new camp over the road has been
established

d) Physical safety
Noigam
Women and children are safe inside but not outside the camp, as a result there is a lot of fear
associated with travelling outside to collect firewood or buy vegetables. Women also said that
it is not safe or ‘proper’ to have girls of 15 sharing a tent with their father, particularly as it is
taboo while girls are menstruating. There is a privacy issue as tents are shared by the whole
family and it is difficult for husband and wife to maintain normal sexual relations.

The security in this area has improved as the police have appointed more police officers to the
area and installed new police posts. There are also plans to appoint a DO specifically
responsible for security.

Burnt Forest Camp

Once again women and children are safe in the camp but not once they move outside. The
level of harassment outside the camp seems quite serious; women have been caught and
harassed collecting firewood by members of the surrounding community. In one incident a
woman was warned that the only reason she was spared was because she was pregnant.
Children raised the issue of being worried about relocation to the site across the road, they
believe it is not as safe because it is more open and is not enclosed. The women are also
concerned about the new site because they weren’t consulted on the tent set up and they are
worried that if the girls have their own tents separate from families they will be able to move
more easily and be vulnerable to abuse.

Girls aged as young as 13 years are reportedly being ‘sexually misused’ by the police officers
and other men in the surrounding community. The women reported that up to 100 girls aged
mostly between 13-17 are selling sex for money to buy goods and food. The older women have
tried to hold a meeting with the girls to warn them of the dangers but the girls were not
interested unless the women could offer them the food and NFI they need, and in particular
sanitary towels and underwear. The girls involved are vulnerable because they are from the
poorer families and they are not getting the goods provided in distributions. This may be linked
to the distribution system whereby women say that only the rich families receive the food and
NFI when distributions happen. The women believe that a targeted distribution of sanitary
materials and underwear for girls between 12- 20 years accompanied with some education
sessions on the risks of sexual engagement and the rights and responsibilities of themselves as
IDPs and children would be necessary.

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Recommended immediate action
• In collaboration with Kenya Red Cross establish a beneficiary list of all girls aged
between 12-20 years and organise a targeted distribution of sanitary towels and
underwear. At the same time deliver educational messages for the girls regarding the
dangers of engaging in under age sex, their rights as IDPs and children and STDs and
HIV/AIDS. This opportunity should also be taken to engage in a discussion with the girls
regarding what their specific needs are that are resulting in their need to sell sex. This
should first take place at Burnt Forest but may also be an important intervention in
other camps in Eldoret and Kitale.

Recommended longer term interventions

• Continue to provide targeted interventions to address the needs of girls and female
youth in the camp settings
• Ensure that new consolidated camps consider both family unity and respect for privacy.
Advocate for IDPs to be involved in the set up of the new consolidated camps.
• Establish meetings for women to be able to discuss the safety issues at the new camp
locations and develop action plans with Red Cross to minimise risks.

e) Gender-based violence

Noigam
There are no recent reported cases of GBV within the camp and the women have taken the
initiative to meet as a group to discuss what measures to take to prevent and respond to any
cases of GBV.

Burnt Forest
There are no recent reported cases of GBV in the camp; however there have been cases of sex-
for-cash as reported in earlier sections of the report.

f) Groups with specific needs

Noigam and Burnt Forest

The women in both locations identified the elderly as vulnerable because they are not able to
defend their rights in the distributions.

Recommended longer term interventions

• Advocate for the consideration of vulnerable groups in interagency meetings

g) Psycho-social concerns

Burnt Forest Camp

Kenya Red Cross has been offering psycho-social support but they have now stopped and the
need for these services continues.

Recommended longer term interventions

• Include Eldoret and Kitale locations in the contract to obtain counsellors to work with
children and families
• Ensure that all counsellors contracted by World Vision have up-to-date qualifications
and have signed an agreement that states that they understand and agree to comply
with the IASC Guidelines on Psycho-social interventions and the government post-

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 conflict guidelines

h) Durable Solutions

The possibilities for return vary between groups. According to the camp manager in Kesogon
IDPs from areas where they owned no land but were business men it will be easier for them to
return (for example those from Makutano), but those that have left land that has now been
distributed to others and believe it cannot be reclaimed are unlikely to return (for example
those from Cheptais).

Recommended longer term interventions

• It is recommended that World Vision Kenya does not get involved in transportation or
publicly support the relocation process. This is a controversial process that may be
impinging on the voluntariness of return and the right to safe and durable return. World
Vision can and should advocate strongly for the rights of the IDPs to be respected in any
return or relocation process emphasising the safety and voluntariness of the return.
• World Vision proactively monitors the return/relocation process and gathers
information on the situation in communities of return/relocation to inform advocacy
and programming

III. Nairobi – Huruma Chief’s camp, Mathare

a) Population

There are approximately 400 IDPs staying at this camp, though the numbers fluctuate
considerably. For distributions a large number of displaced and affected from the surrounding
community are present in the camp.

b) Concerns for children

There is a tent for education and non-formal education activities and the organisation Mama
and Dada provides play activities for the children, although they lack play equipment and
materials. Some children are still not going to school due to lack of school equipment and fees.

Recommended immediate action

• Provision of children’s play equipment to support the work already being carried out by
Mama and Dada in the camp.

c) Physical safety

The camp residents are very scared of attacks, especially at night. This is partly due to the fact
that the camp is located right next to a main road and that the camp remains without fencing
(although reportedly this is difficult due to the land owners objections to fencing). The toilets
remain unlockable and not divided or marked for men and women. Despite these concerns
being raised in the inter-agency assessment on 25th January4 few of the required changes have
been made.

The camp residents have set up their own system of patrolling the camp at night but request
resources such as torches, warm coats and whistles to assist them in their role.

4
Inter-agency Rapid Assessment on Child Protection and Gender-based Violence, Huruma Chief’s Camp, Jan 25th 2008
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Recommended immediate action
• Follow up with the Red Cross regarding what action is being taken to improve the
safety of the camp. If appropriate World Vision should offer concrete support such as
providing locks for the toilets, dividing toilets by gender and contracting a company to
fence the camp (following negotiations with the land owner).
• In consultation with the Red Cross discuss with the camp resident patrols what
materials might assist them in keeping the camp safe. In particular consider the
provision of coats, whistles and torches.

d) Groups with specific needs

Camp residents have made complaints about sharing tents with people living with HIV, and as a
result those living with HIV have requested separate tents and non-food items (such as cooking
and washing items). HIV/AIDS sensitization and education is urgently needed to reduce the
level of discrimination currently taking place in this camp.

Recommended immediate action

• Provision of education sessions on HIV/AIDS and provision of counselling and support
specific to those living with HIV in the camp.

IV. Conclusions

In line with World Vision Kenya’s capacities and mandate the organisation can take immediate
action to improve the protection of women and children in the displaced camps in the
following ways:

• Assist in the application of standards for the distribution of food and non food items
including the establishment of effective follow up and complaint mechanisms
• Provision of education and support to vulnerable girls living in camps
• Continued establishment of child friendly spaces and programs for children
• Provision of psycho-social support where not currently covered or inadequate in line
with the IASC and government guidelines
• Provision of clear information on the rights of the displaced during return process and
monitoring in communities of return or relocation (especially where these coincide
with ADP areas)
• Advocacy on behalf of the internally displaced and affected communities

In carrying out protection activities World Vision Kenya will respect the following principles:

• Respect the primary role of the government in the protection of the displaced and
affected communities
• Coordinate with other actors involved in protection, in particular the Kenyan Red Cross
with respect to its overall coordination and management role
• Reference and adherence to relevant national and international law in all programming
and advocacy

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