Majority of Kenyan women still face online violence, new study reveals

Nearly nine out of ten students in Nairobi’s higher learning institutions have witnessed or experienced technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), according to a new report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

The Rapid Study on Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence in Kenya’s Higher Learning Institutions 2024 shows that although both genders face online abuse, female students are disproportionately targeted.

The study paints a grim picture of how digital spaces, once celebrated for empowering youth and connecting communities, have become breeding grounds for harassment, exploitation and psychological harm.

It found that 39 per cent of respondents had personally experienced TFGBV, while nearly 90 per cent had witnessed it, underscoring the unsafe environment many young women face online.

“Technology should help us, not harm us. Yet it’s being used as a weapon,” said Anders Thomsen, UNFPA Representative to Kenya. “Across Africa, we’re seeing the abuse spreading fast, but most countries lack proper legislation, tools and mechanisms for law enforcement to respond effectively.”

Technology-facilitated GBV includes cyberstalking, online harassment, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, deepfake pornography and the use of artificial intelligence to manipulate victims’ likenesses.

Thomsen noted that AI tools have made it easier to create fake explicit content often used to intimidate or shame women.

“Imagine a young woman finding a doctored video of herself circulating online,” he said. “This not only causes mental and emotional trauma but can ruin reputations and limit job opportunities. Employers now do online background checks, and such images, even if fake, can cost someone their future.”

Many cases begin within intimate relationships, where private photos or videos become tools of revenge once relationships break down. Survivors are left facing humiliation, depression and, too often, silence.

“It’s mostly men abusing women,” Thomsen said. “We need awareness and education for everyone, especially young women, to protect themselves and understand the risks. But more importantly, we need laws that recognise and punish these abuses.”

Although Kenya has made strides through laws such as the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act 2025, the Data Protection Act 2019 and the Sexual Offenses Act 2006, experts say significant gaps persist in how the justice system handles TFGBV.

Fridah Wawira Nyaga, Acting Executive Director at the Coalition on Violence Against Women (COVAW), said many survivors still face victim-blaming and institutional apathy when reporting cases.

“When survivors report to the police, they’re often asked why they posted certain photos or used social media at all,” Nyaga said. “Such attitudes normalise online abuse and discourage victims from seeking justice.”

COVAW’s own study echoes the UNFPA findings, showing that 69 per cent of respondents had experienced TFGBV, with women forming the majority.

Yet despite the high prevalence, few cases result in arrests or convictions due to poor evidence collection and limited digital forensic capacity.

“Law enforcement lacks the training and tools to investigate online crimes effectively,” Nyaga said. “There’s also weak collaboration between tech companies and government agencies, which makes tracing offenders difficult.”

There is, however, some progress. Kenya’s Sexual Offenses Act is under review, and advocates, including COVAW, are pushing for TFGBV to be formally recognised as an offence.

“This is a crucial opportunity,” Nyaga said. “We need gender-responsive laws that explicitly cover emerging forms of digital violence. Alongside this, we must train police officers, prosecutors and judges to handle these cases with sensitivity and competence.”

COVAW is also working with the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action to develop standard operating procedures for integrating TFGBV into national GBV case management systems. This will allow survivors to access services—from reporting to psychosocial support—in a timely and coordinated manner.

Under the Making All Spaces Safe (MASS) project, funded by Global Affairs Canada, COVAW has been implementing targeted programmes in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu to curb online violence.

The project focuses on capacity building, awareness creation and legal and psychosocial support for survivors. So far, 270 stakeholders—including police officers, judicial officers and prosecutors—have been trained on how to handle TFGBV cases effectively.

“When prevention fails, we act,” Nyaga said. “We provide pro bono legal aid and psychosocial support to survivors. But we’re also ensuring the justice system is ready to respond, not re-traumatise them.”

The MASS project also promotes digital literacy and online safety awareness, particularly among women and girls in universities and community groups.

Kenya’s rapid digitisation—from mobile money and social media to e-learning and e-governance—has expanded access to information and opportunities. But this progress has brought unintended consequences.

Social media platforms have become hotspots for trolling, body-shaming, doxxing and sexual harassment. Deepfakes and manipulated content have created new ways to degrade and silence women.

For survivors, the effects often spill offline, causing anxiety, depression and even suicidal thoughts. Many withdraw from digital spaces altogether, losing opportunities for learning, networking and career growth.

UNFPA’s All Africa Symposium on Technology-Facilitated GBV, co-led by Kenya and Benin, aims to spur governments into adopting a coordinated continental approach.

“We’re covering both English- and French-speaking countries,” Thomsen said. “Our goal is to inspire governments to put in place laws and mechanisms to prevent TFGBV and support survivors when it happens.”

The symposium seeks to establish frameworks for collaboration between governments, NGOs and tech companies in recognition of the global nature of digital violence.

As more Kenyans go online, experts warn that digital violence could become the next major front in the fight for gender equality.

“Technology offers a chance to promote inclusivity, transparency and citizen engagement,” Nyaga said. “But we must ensure it is used responsibly—with empathy, respect and dignity for everyone, especially women and girls.”