By Dr. Eunice Omwoyo, Dr Caroline Mbaya
The Green & Digital Innovation Hub (gDIH), through the DigiKen programme, has examined the growing risks of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) as digital participation expands in Kenya. The policy brief draws on data from 854 respondents across 14 DigiKen-supported Digital Innovation Hubs in 11 counties.
The findings show that digital participation is closely associated with exposure to online harassment and abuse, with daily internet users recording more than twice the adjusted odds of exposure. Women with disabilities experienced particularly high exposure, at 15.7% compared with 8.6% among women without disabilities.
The brief highlights the need to move beyond awareness alone by strengthening digital safety skills, accessible reporting and referral systems, institutional capacity, platform accountability, and evidence-based monitoring. It recommends integrating practical TFGBV response skills into digital literacy and entrepreneurship programmes while ensuring that survivors can access appropriate legal, psychosocial and protection services.
The policy brief provides practical recommendations for government, digital inclusion programmes, platforms, law enforcement, justice institutions, civil society and other stakeholders to make Kenya’s growing digital ecosystem safer, more inclusive and more accountable.
To access the brief, please click the button below.
