This archive report was first published on 19 June 2020.
Healing from Marriage Trauma: A Conversation with Angeline Yiamiton Siparo ¶
June 19, 2020
Angeline Yiamiton Siparo, the chairperson of the National AIDS Control Council, has had a long and storied career in women's rights activism. At 51, she's made a name for herself as a passionate advocate for women's empowerment and a fierce critic of gender-based violence.
But despite her many accomplishments, Siparo's life has not been without its challenges. In a recent interview with Nyakundi Report, she spoke candidly about the trauma she's experienced in her own life, including the difficulties of getting justice in cases involving gender violence.
'It's not always been easy to get out of bed,' she said, reflecting on the struggles she's faced. 'I've had to deal with some traumatic experiences in the family recently. I went for trauma counselling and one of the ways to deal with the issue has been to clean the house. I mean, really clean my house, like remove all furniture and clean the whole place.'
For Siparo, healing from trauma is not just about personal recovery, but also about creating a better world for others. She's passionate about setting up a mental health centre specifically for people who have been abused, and is working towards making that a reality.
When asked if she sees herself ever getting married again, Siparo replied, 'I'd love to. But let me say that when I talk about healing from trauma and I used the analogy of cleaning the house I meant removing every furniture. I learnt about this during therapy for secondary trauma as a mother. I realised there was trauma around bad marriage, but I'd be open to a nice loving relationship full of compassion and friendship.'
As she looks to the future, Siparo is clear about what she wants to achieve in the second half of her life. 'I'm now dealing with larger legacy goals,' she said. 'I was born in Maasai-land and you may know the gender experiences of a Maasai woman who is divorced. I have struggled with where to build a home, where I belong. Where do I settle in the long-term? I have land in Transmara, where I hail from, but I can't settle there or in Nairobi.'
Despite the challenges she's faced, Siparo remains optimistic about the future. 'I have no regrets,' she said. 'If I was told it's ending midday, I'd call my bank and tell them to take care of my children.'
