Kenya has convened a multi-stakeholder dialogue forum aimed at developing interventions to address Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) and Online Violence Against Women in Politics (OVAWP).
Participants expressed concern over the growing threat these forms of abuse pose to the integrity of the 2027 General Election.
The forum brought together more than 40 representatives from government institutions, regulatory agencies, political parties, civil society organizations and digital media experts to explore collaborative strategies for creating safer and more inclusive digital spaces.
Registrar of Political Parties John Cox Lorionokou welcomed the broad representation of stakeholders, noting that the fight against gender-based violence requires a collective effort.
“The issues of GBV, TFGBV and exclusion are not only electoral problems but also societal setbacks that need a collective approach to address,” Lorionokou said.
The Registrar underscored the need for sustained dialogue within political party structures to help address the country’s political and electoral challenges.
“We need to establish frameworks and legal reforms aligned to the operations of political parties and incorporate issues around TFGBV and OVAWP so as to comprehensively address these pressing and emerging challenges,” he said.
Participants emphasized the need to strengthen the safety and integrity of online platforms to ensure technology serves as a tool for democratic participation rather than a channel for harassment, intimidation and exclusion.
Discussions focused on several key intervention areas, including strengthening state regulatory oversight through enhanced inter-agency coordination, improving digital infrastructure and reporting mechanisms for online harms, and promoting accountability within political parties by reinforcing internal frameworks to address digital abuse.
Also in attendance were Assistant Registrar Agatha Wahome, Assistant Registrar CPA Florence Birya and senior officials from the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP).
Organizers said the dialogue forms part of ORPP Kenya’s broader efforts to foster collaboration among stakeholders in addressing emerging digital threats that could undermine democratic governance and political participation.
The forum concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthen legal, institutional and policy frameworks to combat online violence and safeguard inclusive participation in Kenya’s democratic processes ahead of the 2027 General Election.
By Joseph Ng’ang’a
