This archive report was first published on 17 November 2019.
On Thursdays, the production wing of Nation Centre's third floor is filled with women in black, a sight that might be mistaken for mourning a colleague.
However, this is a deliberate choice by senior editors and an editorial secretary, who have been observing the weekly ritual for over a year as part of the informal global resistance movement, 'Thursdays in Black', which advocates against rape and gender-based violence.
Initiated by the World Council of Churches (WCC), headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the movement has a fellowship of 350 member churches representing over half a billion Christians, mostly Protestants.
According to the WCC website, the movement's call to action is to 'Wear black on Thursdays. Wear a pin to declare you are part of the global movement resisting attitudes and practices that permit rape and violence. Show your respect for women who are resilient in the face of injustice and violence. Encourage others to join you.'
Rev Lucy Waweru, director of Christian education at the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) headquarters in Nairobi's South C, is one of the adherents of this movement. She shares materials on the 'silent protest' with staff, saying, 'Slowly, we are transforming the look of Thursdays.'
Dr Nyambura Njoroge, the first woman to be ordained minister by the PCEA, is also passionate about the movement. She is a long-serving director of the HIV and Aids Advocacy and Initiatives by the WCC and has been keeping tabs on issues of violence against girls and women.
As Dr Nyambura notes, 'This violence is frequently hidden and victims are often silent, fearing stigma and further violence.'
The women at Nation Centre are confident that their advocacy is never in vain. Ms Catherine Kitaka, a sub-editor, explains her affinity with the drive, saying, 'I just want women and girls to be free. This [movement] is about safety for girls and women.'
For editorial secretary Mary Mwambia, the campaign's slogan says it all: 'Towards a world without rape and violence.'
Sub-editor Judy Ogecha supports the campaign 'because rape and violence do great damage to women's and girls' self-esteem and should be stopped at all costs.'
Ms Catherine Wanyama, NMG's editorial manager, highlights the campaign's worldwide nature, saying, 'This is a big global campaign and I'd like to support it. If it will save the life of somebody somewhere out there, man, woman, boy or girl, all the better.'
