The Rising Tide of Gender-Based Violence Targeting Women with Disabilities in Kenya

By Melisa Mong’ina

The year 2024 has seen a troubling surge in gender-based violence (GBV) across Kenya, with women and girls with disabilities bearing the brunt of this crisis. 

Their challenges are compounded by a lack of data, limited awareness, and systemic barriers to accessing justice. 

This group is disproportionately vulnerable to multiple forms of violence, including physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, often with devastating consequences.

A report by the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights that women with disabilities are at a significantly higher risk of sexual violence, with 3 in 10 reporting such experiences. 

Similarly, a 2020 baseline survey by the Coalition on Violence Against Women (COVAW) revealed alarming rates of sexual and gender-based violence among women with intellectual disabilities. In Nairobi, 41% of women in this group reported experiencing such violence, while Kiambu County recorded a slightly lower rate of 38%.

Fridah Wawira Nyaga, Acting Executive Director of COVAW, attributes much of this violence to entrenched stigmatization and harmful community attitudes toward women and girls with disabilities.

Fridah Wawira Nyaga, Acting Executive Director, COVAW

“Community perceptions and attitudes are a major issue,” Wawira explained. “Women and girls with disabilities are often viewed as a bad omen to their families, and in some extreme cases, babies born with disabilities are abandoned in forests to die.”

Wawira recounted a heartbreaking encounter with a young girl with a disability who was severely neglected by her family. The girl, who was menstruating, was locked in a dark room with food passed to her through a small window. The family saw no need to provide basic necessities like sanitary pads, depriving her of dignity and freedom.

“These women and girls are often denied basic rights such as food, education, and healthcare,” Wawira said. “In Nakuru County, I witnessed a young girl locked in a small, dark room because her family didn’t consider her worth caring for. She was completely isolated and unable to interact with others.”

Such neglect makes these girls vulnerable to further abuse, including sexual violence perpetrated by relatives or community members. Perpetrators often bribe victims into silence, leaving them to suffer without support or recourse.

Barriers to Healthcare, Education, and Justice

Access to healthcare is another critical challenge for women and girls with disabilities. Even when taken to health facilities, those with communication impairments struggle due to the lack of sign language interpreters.

“Women who use sign language face significant challenges in hospitals,” Wawira noted. “The absence of interpreters makes it almost impossible for them to communicate their needs and receive proper care.”

Education, a fundamental right for every child, remains out of reach for many girls with disabilities in rural areas. Most schools lack special units or trained teachers equipped to handle their needs, making integration into the regular school system nearly impossible.

“Access to education is a major barrier,” Wawira explained. “While the Kenyan government promotes the integration of children with disabilities into mainstream schools, rural areas face acute shortages of resources, trained teachers, and specialized learning materials.”

Advocacy and Strategies for Change

A community awareness raising session on the rights of intellectually challenged women and girls on November 2023 at Naroosura area in Narok County.

COVAW employs various strategies to advocate for the rights of women and girls with disabilities. Advocacy is a cornerstone of their work, supported by research and evidence-based campaigns to push for gender-progressive policies, laws, and institutions.

“One of our key strategies is conducting research to support evidence-based advocacy,” Wawira said. “For example, our recent study, Delayed and Denied, examines the systemic delays and denials survivors face in accessing justice for sexual and gender-based violence. This report is available on our website.”

COVAW has also collaborated with other organizations to publish the Not Yet Equal report, which reviews over 30 years of progress and challenges in enhancing services for women and girls with disabilities in Kenya.

In addition to advocacy, COVAW focuses on capacity-building by providing technical support to women, girls, and community actors. Movement building, starting at the grassroots level, mobilizes and empowers key stakeholders to advance the rights of women and girls with disabilities.

“Our movement-building efforts begin at the community level,” Wawira explained. “We aim to raise awareness and strengthen activism to address violence against women and girls with disabilities.”

COVAW is also addressing emerging forms of GBV, such as technology-facilitated violence. Under the USAID-funded Transform Digital Spaces project, the organization promotes locally-led solutions to combat online abuse and harassment.

Legal Framework and Implementation Gaps

Kenya boasts a robust legal framework to address GBV and promote the rights of women and girls, including the Sexual Offenses Act (2006), the Protection Against Domestic Violence Act (2015), and the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act (2011). However, weak implementation undermines these laws.

“The problem is not the lack of laws but their poor implementation,” Wawira said. “For instance, Kenya has fewer than five government-owned safe houses for survivors of GBV, despite commitments in various policy frameworks.”

This shortage leaves many women with no safe haven to escape abusive situations. In addition, county governments allocate minimal resources for initiatives like building shelters, with many of these funds remaining underutilized.

“We need political will, better planning, and adequate resource allocation to ensure the effective implementation of these laws and policies,” Wawira emphasized.

Successful Campaigns and Future Initiatives

COVAW has achieved notable successes in its advocacy work. In 2020, the organization successfully challenged Section 146 of Kenya’s Penal Code, which had referred to persons with disabilities as “idiots.” The national parliament amended this section in December 2022, marking a significant victory for disability rights.

Additionally, COVAW’s collaboration with AmplifyChange (2020-2022) led to the establishment of a GBV helpline, enabling survivors—including those with disabilities—to access free support.

“During that project, we also took on 15 new legal cases involving women and girls with intellectual disabilities,” Wawira noted. “While some cases were lost, others resulted in justice, demonstrating progress in addressing GBV against women with disabilities.”

Currently, COVAW is prioritizing a campaign to combat femicide in Kenya. The Her Life Matters initiative uses creative partnerships with makeup artists and photographers to create visual representations of GBV, raising awareness and urging stakeholders to act.

“We are calling on all stakeholders to unite and create safe spaces for women in Kenya,” Wawira said.

Addressing Barriers in Reporting GBV

Women and girls with disabilities face significant challenges in reporting GBV. Many are unaware of their rights or how to access support services, and societal biases often lead to their testimonies being doubted.

“Police officers lack training in sign language, and interpreters are absent at most stations,” Wawira noted. “This makes it difficult for survivors with communication impairments to report abuse.”

Delays in legal proceedings, high costs, and corruption further discourage survivors from seeking justice. A recent COVAW study found that most GBV cases involving women with disabilities take 4-5 years to conclude, leading to witness fatigue and case withdrawals.

“The cost of pursuing justice is prohibitive,” Wawira explained. “This forces many survivors to abandon their cases, leaving perpetrators unpunished.”

COVAW advocates for the establishment of at least one safe house in each of Kenya’s 47 counties to provide temporary refuge for women escaping abuse.

“Safe houses are critical,” Wawira urged. “We need the government to prioritize their construction so that women and girls, including those with disabilities, have a place to turn to in times of crisis.”

As Kenya continues to grapple with rising cases of GBV, it is evident that women and girls with disabilities face unique vulnerabilities that require urgent attention. While laws and policies exist, their weak implementation, coupled with societal stigma, systemic neglect, and lack of resources, perpetuates the suffering of this marginalized group.

Through advocacy, capacity-building, and innovative campaigns, organizations like COVAW are paving the way for change. However, a collaborative effort involving government, civil society, and community stakeholders is essential to ensure that the rights, dignity, and safety of women and girls with disabilities are upheld.