Technology Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) is rapidly emerging as a major concern in Isiolo County, with most cases remaining hidden from authorities and rarely reaching the courts.
Senior Principal Magistrate (SPM) Elias Mwenda, speaking during a training for the Isiolo County Court Users Committee, warned that the rise in online and technology-driven abuse demanded urgent intervention from all stakeholders.
The SPM said there was a need to strengthen reporting mechanisms, increase public awareness and improve access to justice for victims of digital abuse and harassment.
He noted that many survivors continued to suffer in silence due to fear, stigma and limited knowledge on available legal protections.
The training was organized with support from the International Association of Women Judges, Kenya Chapter and the UN Women Kenya Office through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.
The forum brought together judicial officers, community leaders and other stakeholders to deliberate on the growing threat posed by online and technology facilitated violence.
Speaking during the event, Samburu Council of Elders Chairperson Joyce Nailesea said many members of the community lacked adequate knowledge on how to handle rape cases with the sensitivity and care they deserved.
She observed that most cases were often resolved informally by chiefs and elders, sometimes under trees, instead of being reported to the relevant authorities.
According to Nailesea, such informal processes frequently disadvantaged female victims due to deeply rooted male chauvinism within local communities.
The chairperson further noted that rape cases involving married couples were particularly difficult to address because of cultural beliefs and misconceptions surrounding marriage and women’s rights.
However, she said the training had equipped participants with valuable knowledge on better ways of approaching and handling such sensitive cases.
She also observed that some men in local communities resisted rape allegations made by their wives, claiming that payment of dowry gave them ownership over the women.
Nailesea cautioned members of the public against oversharing personal information on social media platforms, warning that such practices exposed individuals to online criminals and other digital threats.
by David Nduro
