Our Most Successful Story

Mt. Elgon experienced one of the worst and most painful politically instigated armed conflicts in Kenya. The militia group responsible, the Sabaot Land Defence Force (SLDF) terrorized and maimed the local population. This led the state to engage in a military operation to stop the militia, but which also resulted in additional violations of the local population. So the people, all — the victims/survivors, perpetrators and the entire community remained highly traumatised living with inner wounds and in need of healing.

In September 2020, SCCODE organized for 5 days social healing circle meetings for 20 widows in Mt. Elgon. Among the widows, there was one whose husband was responsible for “slaughtering” 10 husbands of the participants. For the first 3 days of the social healing circle meetings, she was lonely and isolated. We had a breakthrough the fourth day when one of the victims stood up to share her story. She confessed harbouring hatred for this particular woman whose husband was responsible for the death of so many people since 2008 when the violence took place. Through social healing circle meetings she was able to realize that she has been directing her anger at a wrong person whose husband was equally killed through “mob justice”. Her confession loosened the meeting and more women who had similar feelings shared their stories. Almost all the widows in the meeting resolved not only to seek for her forgiveness for the manner in which they have been treating her but also accompany her in her healing journey for she has been a social misfit in their community.

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