As the world observes the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, which began on November 25, Kenyan advocates are raising alarm over the country’s escalating Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) crisis.
According to the UN Women, an estimated 840 million women, almost one in three, have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both at least once in their life (30 per cent of women aged 15 and older).
This figure, which does not include sexual harassment, has remained largely unchanged in the last two decades.
Progress in reducing intimate partner violence has been very slow over the last two decades, with only a 0.2 per cent annual decline
Among the strongest voices is that of Akumu Pamba, a Feminist MEAL advisor at Oxfam Africa, who argues that ending SGBV demands more than outrage; it requires structural change, accountability, and a cultural shift.
Akumu says the drivers of SGBV in Kenya are deeply tied to social and economic pressures. High unemployment, financial struggles, and lack of basic needs have increased dependency, especially among women.
“When you can’t provide for yourself, the person providing for you dictates your life,” she says.
This dependency exposes many women to abuse, particularly in households where economic stress is already high.
She also points to harmful cultural practices, including FGM and child marriage, that persist despite being outlawed.
“These practices are harmful to women, yet they persist because patriarchy still positions men as superior,” she notes.
More than 230 million girls and women alive today have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM) in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where FGM is practised, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The vice is mostly carried out on young girls between infancy and age 15 and is regarded as a violation of the human rights of girls and women, fanning inequality.
The belief that men hold higher value, she says, remains one of the strongest forces driving gender inequality in Kenya.
But even when survivors seek help, the systems meant to protect them too often fail. Reporting abuse can be a long, discouraging process.
“You report a case, and you’re not helped, or it takes ages to be resolved,” Akumu explains, adding that such failures only fuel the rise of SGBV. She highlights newer forms of violence such as cyber harassment and leaking of intimate images — acts many Kenyans still do not recognise as SGBV.
Akumu paints a bleak picture of a justice system riddled with delays, bureaucracy and inequality, where survivors are expected to gather evidence that may be impossible to obtain.
“The burden of proof lies heavily on the survivor. It’s unfair and discourages many from pursuing justice,” she says.
Corruption further worsens the situation. Survivors are often asked for payments before receiving assistance, a practice Akumu describes as “corruption disguised as procedure.”
She adds that financial inequality deepens the injustice: the wealthy can access lawyers and private medical services, while poor women, especially those in informal settlements, are left with little hope.
“For many women, cases simply go unanswered,” she notes.
Akumu argues that Kenya remains a reactive nation.
“The government only responds when an issue becomes loud, when people protest or the media highlights it,” she says, citing the recent wave of femicide cases that briefly stirred national outrage before fading from public discussion.
“The silence that follows doesn’t mean the violence has stopped.”
Survivors face multiple barriers: financial constraints, inaccessible legal services, inconsistent medical care, stigma, and lack of information. Many victims fear being judged.
“They worry, what will people say about me?” Akumu says. "Others do not even realise they are experiencing SGBV or don’t know where to turn for help."
As the 16 Days of Activism continue, one message is clear: SGBV is not just a women’s issue but a national crisis requiring collective action.
Akumu stresses that only through stronger protection systems, cultural transformation, community awareness, institutional accountability, and early education can Kenya begin to build a society where gender-based violence is the exception, not the norm.
