Safe Engage Foundation
1.1K posts
@SafeFdn
A youth led organisation in Kuria, working to end FGM and all forms of gender - based violence and deliver child protection through mentorship and empowerment.
CELEBRATING A TITAN OF CHANGE: CI JANE AGATHA WEKESA’S CRUSADE AGAINST FGM AND SGBV “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed,” wrote Dr.Martin Luther King Jr. These words echo through the life and work of Chief Inspector Jane Agatha Wekesa, HSC—a police officer who has made it her mission to demand freedom and dignity for women, men, and children living under the shadow of harmful cultural practices and gender-based violence. Having enlisted in the National Police Service in 2011 and trained with the General Service Unit, CI Wekesa brings not only discipline and duty to her work but also a profound sense of purpose. Armed with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Security Studies from Mount Kenya University, she has served in Mariakani, Rabai, Kehancha, ASTU, and Nandi Central, where she secured stringent convictions against perpetrators of FGM and SGBV. She now leads as the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Chepterwai Police Station in Nandi County. Yet, beyond enforcing law and order, her greatest battle lies in dismantling deeply rooted practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), child marriage, intimate partner violence, and femicide. Her conviction is uncompromising. “FGM is a retrogressive culture. It scars the girl and woman in every way—physically, biologically, psychologically, and socially. I will not stop, not today, not tomorrow, until the statistics read zero,” she says with a calm but resolute voice. For her, ending gender-based violence means protecting everyone—women, men, and children. She urges women to find the courage to walk away from abuse, men to prioritise their mental health over destructive stereotypes, and children to break the silence that often shields abusers within trusted circles. CI Wekesa understands that change begins with humility and listening. In her community engagements, she immerses herself at the grassroots level, seeking to understand why some traditions exist before challenging them. She frames culture as a two-sided coin—with harmful practices like FGM and wife-beating on one side, and beautiful traditions like child-naming ceremonies on the other. By building trust, she reminds communities that government, civil society partners, and police toll-free numbers such as 999, 911, 112, and #FichuaKwaDCI on 0800 722 203 or WhatsApp 0709 570 000 are not distant institutions but allies in the fight for justice. Her words are matched by action. Over the years, she has been recognised nationally and internationally for her tireless advocacy. In 2021, Migori County honoured her as an Anti-FGM and SGBV Champion during the 16 Days of Activism. In 2023, she received a certificate from the then Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Hon Aisha Jumwa, and later that year, she was awarded the Head of State Commendation (HSC) by H.E. President William Ruto. Her impact has also crossed borders; in November 2024, she received a global award from Dr Michael Freeland, founder of Mental-Real-of-State, for her contributions to mental health and resilience in combating social ills. She is currently undertaking research on how different communities perceive FGM and gender-based violence, noting with concern that some still view child marriage as culture rather than crime. Her vision is to extend education to every household under her jurisdiction. At the same time, she is determined to start within the police service itself, ensuring that her colleagues are neither victims nor perpetrators of SGBV and femicide. “There is a way it bites when the person on the other side of the bench is a colleague,” she reflects. Her leadership philosophy is clear: community empowerment, collaboration, and inclusivity. She insists that the fight against FGM and GBV cannot be won by one person or one agency—it requires the energy of youth, the wisdom of elders, and the cooperation of all stakeholders.
Her impact has also crossed borders; in November 2024, she received a global award for her contributions to mental health and resilience in combating social ills. k24.digital/heartbeat/jane…
