The Kenyan government has launched a national WhatsApp platform to strengthen reporting, protection and response to Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
This comes at a time when the country is facing rising cases of femicide and technology-facilitated violence.
In a statement, the State Department for Gender Affair, revealed that it has unveiled the National GBV Reporting WhatsApp platform (+254 724 88 4444).
The confidential platform is designed to provide survivors with immediate access to psychological support, legal counselling and referral services.
The Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services Cabinet Secretary Hannah Cheptumo also escribed the initiative as a “groundbreaking intervention” aimed at improving access to support through Kenya’s growing digital connectivity.
“This tool provides immediate, automated, and confidential psychological support, legal counseling, and direct referral mechanisms for survivors of online and physical violence,” Cheptumo said.
According to her, the platform would help improve prevention and response efforts while making support services more accessible to survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
At the same time, the government introduced Guidelines for Gender Mainstreaming into Climate Action.
The framework seeks to integrate gender considerations into climate change interventions across sectors, recognising the disproportionate impact of climate-related disasters on women and vulnerable groups.
