A new explosive report has exposed the grim realities of gender-based violence (GBV) and the deeply entrenched patriarchy suffocating women’s leadership in Kenya’s Nairobi, Kitui, and Samburu counties.
Commissioned by CREAW and CRAWN Trust, and executed by PARS Research, the “Shifting Social Norms Towards GBV Prevention and Promotion of Women Leadership” project has unearthed shocking truths behind the veneer of community progress. Despite a growing understanding of GBV, the report reveals that the practice remains disturbingly rampant, cloaked under cultural silence, fear, and systemic failure.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: Women Still Under Siege
Out of 75 community members surveyed, a staggering 93% were aware of physical violence, 88% of sexual violence, while psychological, economic, and verbal abuses trailed close behind. Alarmingly, nearly half were aware of FGM and child marriages still occurring in their communities.
And it gets worse—perpetrators are often shielded by families, harmful customs normalize violence, and reporting systems are weak or nonexistent. “Families prefer to settle GBV cases at home, shielding rapists and wife batterers in the name of tradition,” said one FGD participant in Kitui.
Faith Leaders Speak, But Are They Doing Enough?
While religious leaders are seen as influential voices for change (77% of respondents), their ability to act effectively is hampered. Though they scored high on awareness (75%) and attitude (87%), their real-world impact dropped to 74% on practice. Many admitted they lacked adequate training and tools to handle GBV cases or counsel survivors.
“We are expected to lead, but no one equips us,” lamented a pastor from Samburu during a key interview. “Sometimes we don’t even know where to send a survivor for help.”
Character Assassination: The Price of Female Ambition
In the political arena, aspiring women leaders face an unforgiving battlefield. The report paints a grim picture—character assassination, slut-shaming, and whispers of sexual favors plague women vying for leadership roles, especially in Nairobi and Samburu.
“In Samburu, they say women belong in the kitchen, not the council chambers,” said a women’s rights advocate. “In Kitui, your marital status is a campaign issue.”
Cultural Chains Still Shackling Women
From patriarchal beliefs to economic oppression, the systemic exclusion of women remains the norm. In Nairobi’s informal settlements, job scarcity and tribalism push women into economic dependency. In Kitui and Samburu, land ownership and decision-making power remain firmly in men’s hands.
In all counties, household chores, lack of property, and outdated clan affiliations are used to lock women out of leadership and prosperity.
CBOs and WLOs Fighting Back – But With Empty Hands
Despite the efforts of grassroots organizations, many are struggling to make an impact due to rigid cultural resistance, underfunding, and political sabotage.
“Sometimes we want to hold a forum, but there’s no money for chairs, transport, or food,” a CBO leader from Kitui shared. “Yet these forums are how we spark change.”
The report concludes with a clarion call: collaborative, community-wide action is urgently needed. This means training faith leaders, empowering women economically, engaging men and boys as allies, and ensuring GBV survivors can access justice and safety.
