By Annah Katuki
As an anthropologist who has spent years listening to women’s stories across Kenya, I have seen how the digital world—once hailed as a great equalizer—has become a new battleground for old inequalities. This year, as we mark the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence from November 25 to December 10, the UNiTE campaign zeros in on technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). It is a timely call: ending digital abuse against women and girls isn’t just about safer screens; it’s about reclaiming dignity, health and economic freedom in a connected Kenya/Africa.
TFGBV isn’t some abstract tech glitch—it is real harm weaponized through phones and platforms. Think non-consensual sharing of intimate images, online stalking, cyberbullying, doxxing, or AI-generated deepfakes that twist someone’s likeness into something violating. These are not isolated pranks; they often escalate to offline threats, like coercion or even physical violence. In my work, I have heard from survivors who describe it as a “shadow pandemic”—silent, pervasive, and devastating, especially for women in public roles like activists, journalists, or politicians.
The numbers in Kenya paint a stark picture. A recent study in Nairobi’s universities found that nearly 90% of young adults have witnessed TFGBV, with 39% experiencing it firsthand. Women bear the brunt: 64% of female students report at least one incident, often online defamation or non-consensual pornography, compared to 36% of men. Platforms like WhatsApp, X, and Instagram are hotspots, fuelled by personal grudges or the false shield of anonymity. Broader stats are even more chilling—over half of Kenyan girls and young women face online harassment before 25, mirroring global trends where 58% of young women report similar abuse. And it is linked to rising femicide: one woman is killed daily in Kenya, with TFGBV often playing a role in stalking or escalation.
The impacts ripple far beyond a hurtful message. Survivors I have spoken with talk about the mental toll—shame, anxiety, isolation—that derails education, careers, and health. Economically, it forces women out of online spaces where they build businesses or networks, widening the gaps ACHGJ fights to close. At our Center, we know health systems thrive when women lead, but TFGBV silences voices, limits access to digital health resources, and deepens stigma around issues like reproductive care. It’s not just violence; it’s a barrier to the economic power we champion, trapping women in cycles of dependence and exclusion.
But Kenya isn’t standing still. We are seeing inspiring pushes forward. Initiatives like the Safe Sisters network train women journalists on spotting spyware and gathering evidence, while apps like GRIT in South Africa—now inspiring similar tools here—offer secure ways for survivors to document abuse. Regulators are drafting child online safety rules, and the African Union’s policies urge faster platform takedowns. At ACHGJ, we are amplifying these efforts by embedding gender justice into systems, supporting community-led research that turns lived experiences into policy change. We have got laws like the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, but survivors say enforcement lags—police dismiss cases, courts drag and platforms dodge accountability.
It is time for no excuses. Governments must enforce survivor-centered laws, train law enforcement in trauma-informed responses, and collaborate with tech giants for transparent reporting. Platforms? Step up—embed Safety by Design to prevent harm before it happens, not just react. Donors and communities, invest in digital literacy and feminist groups that equip women to fight back. And all of us? Challenge the norms that blame victims, support survivors, and wear orange this activism period to signal hope.
As we honour the Beijing Declaration’s 30th anniversary, let us remember: true gender justice means safe digital spaces where women thrive, not survive. At ACHGJ, we’re committed to bridging these gaps—join us in turning the tide.
Annah Katuki is an Anthropologist and TFGBV Expert | Africa Center for Health Systems and Gender Justice (ACHGJ). Reach us at info@healthsystemsgenderjustice.org.
