According to the UN Women and the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS), approximately 34 per cent of women in Kenya have experienced physical violence by the time they are 15 years of age.
About 13 per cent others have experienced some form of sexual violence.
Nationally, reports by the National Crime Research Centre (NCRC) and the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) indicate that reported cases of domestic violence, sexual assault and intimate partner violence have remained persistently high over the last two years, with an increasing public concern over cases of femicide.
In Nyeri County both county and national government in partnership with civil society organizations and police have continued to report cases involving physical assault, sexual violence and acts of domestic abuse.
Although many of these cases never reach authorities owing to fear and stigma, stakeholders say the trend points to a growing social crisis requiring urgent intervention.
The situation has further been compounded by a recent rise in suicide cases, which local administrators link to societal breakdown and family conflicts.
Mr Ngunyi Maina, Nyeri Central Deputy County Commissioner says the sub-county recently recorded three suicide cases within a single week involving both men and women aged between 24 and 50years.
“Mental health issues, unemployment and drug abuse are among the leading causes of violence in our homes. Many people turn to drugs as a form of relief, but they end up becoming violent,” Mr Ngunyi said.
He added that cultural practices that reserve inheritance for men and financial constraints, especially following the death of family members, continue to fuel domestic conflicts and violence.
Ngunyi described the county’s GBV statistics as alarming, saying Nyeri recorded 154 defilement cases, 26 rape cases, two gang defilement cases and seven attempted rape cases in 2025.
He also cited recent sodomy cases, including one involving six primary school boys and another in which a pastor sodomized a boy in Majengo slums.
The cleric was later lynched by a mob.
“These are cases that show the extent of violence in our communities,” he said, adding that female genital mutilation (FGM) and incest remain largely hidden crimes.
“Female Genital Mutilation is still there, but it is very silent. Incest cases are also few in the records because they happen quietly within families,” he noted.
To curb this problem, Ngunyi says the government had intensified community sensitization through collaborations with council of elders, chiefs and other local leaders.
“We are engaging council of elders, holding chief barazas and speaking to young people especially in colleges, because prevention starts with awareness,” he said.
He further pointed to high profile murder cases including those of Baby Tamara and Joy Kanini as painful reminders of the devastating consequences of GBV, urging residents to report abuse early and work together to protect vulnerable members of the society.
Kenya’s legal framework provides clear protection against such violations.
Article 26 of the Constitution guarantees every person’s right to life, while Article 27 protects every individual from discrimination and affirms equality before the law.
Article 28 guarantees the right to human dignity, and Article 29 protects every person from violence, torture and cruel inhuman or degrading treatment.
These constitutional provisions are reinforced through laws such as the Protection against Domestic Violence Act, 2015, the Sexual Offences Act, 2006, the Children Act, and the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act, 2011.
Yet despite these legal safeguards, residents of Nyeri believe the fight against GBV is far from won.
For businessman Lemmy Kadenyi, the growing number of violent incidents reflects a society struggling to uphold the sanctity of human life.
“Every day we hear cases of people being beaten, assaulted or even killed. This is clear sign that we still have a long way to go in educating the society about respecting life and resolving conflicts peacefully.” said Kadenyi.
Kadenyi believes victims often remain silent because from fear of being judged by the society.
“It is important for victims to have safe spaces where they can report abuse without fear of stigma. Security agencies should also work closely with communities to ensure perpetrators face justice.” he suggests.
“Fighting GBV is everyone’s responsibility. We must all say no to violence if we want a peaceful society.”
For Mercy Wanjiru, a second-hand clothes trader, GBV extends beyond what many people traditionally associate with domestic abuse.
She argues that harmful cultural practices such as early marriages and FGM continue to expose girls to lifelong trauma.
“Defilement and rape should never be treated as ordinary crimes,” she says. “Parents who deny children access to education on the basis of gender are also contributing to violence.”
Wanjiru further points to child trafficking, forced prostitution and exploitation of children in drug trafficking as forms of gender-based violence that deserve greater public attention.
“Every Kenyan has constitutional rights, and violations against children and women should never be handled lightly.”
While women continue to bear the greatest burden of gender based violence, Crispine Oloo, an accountant, believes another conversation has long been ignored.
“I feel violence against men has always been overlooked in this country. They are constantly told to ‘man up.’ As a result, many suffer in silence.” he argues.
According to Oloo, many men suffer emotional, psychological and even physical abuse but rarely report it due to societal expectations that men should appear strong.
He describes relationships where men experience controlling behaviour, isolation and emotional manipulation, saying these forms of abuse can be just as damaging as physical violence.
“We need to create an environment where men can also speak openly without ridicule.”
Oloo also believes counselling services should become mandatory in schools, public institutions and workplaces to help people deal with conflict before it escalates into violence.
Janet Kirigo, who is a retired teacher cites the country’s difficult economic situation which she partly blames for the rise in domestic violence.
She explains that financial stress often creates tension within households, especially where traditional expectations place men under pressure to provide.
“The economy is affecting many families,” she says.
“If someone who used to support the family comes home without anything because they have lost income, disagreements may start. Psychological pressure can eventually lead to violence.”
Kirigo also identifies unemployment and prolonged unresolved conflicts—what she describes as “cold wars”—as contributing factors.
“When couples stop communicating, nobody knows what the other person is planning. That is why we are seeing more cases of homicide, suicide and murder.” she states.
She urges couples to seek mediation and dialogue instead of allowing disagreements to spiral into tragedy.
County Executive Committee Member in charge of Gender, Esther Ndung’u has called for greater collaboration among stakeholders in the war against GBV and illicit brews saying information sharing is key to eradicating the vice.
Ndun’gu says lack of sharing critical information such as data on victims of GBV is an impediment in guaranteeing justice to the affected.
“It appears that some perpetrators of Gender Based violence are relatives and people known to the victims. It is also apparent that some of these people are being protected. All of us need to work as a team, collectively because we can’t fight this (GBV menace) alone,” says the CEC.
Ndung’u also revealed that among all the forms of GBV cases that have been reported in the county since 2024, defilement tops the list.
She has therefore called for synergy amongst all stakeholders right from the village level all the way to the judiciary in reporting and prosecution of suspects in GBV cases.
“From 2024 to date there were 349 Gender Based Violence cases that were reported and defilement cases were 154.The Judiciary also gave us a report that they had handled 126 GBV cases of which defilement were 92 and some cases are ongoing. But there is a gap. If you look at 2022, there were 335 GBV cases ,361 in 2023 ,371 in 2024and 435 in 2025. But if you compare with court cases they are very low with what is reported. And this is the team we need to fight these vices,” emphasized Ndung’u.
Among strategies the county is using in the war against GBV include partnering with relevant stakeholders like Centre for Rights, Education and Awareness (CREAW) in creating community awareness on the need to speak out and report any form of GBV to relevant authorities.
The officer said her department is working with Police and chiefs to ensure the rights of GBV victims are safeguarded including having a friendly-GBV reporting desk in every police station where the affected can be assisted.
She also called for the Government to start availing free P3 forms to victims of GBV as one way of easing the psychological burden that such persons go through while seeking help.
“In 2021 we started a technical working group that has various stakeholders all the way from national government and came up with a Gender Policy that is talking about the issues like suicide and Gender Based Violence. We also have a Youth Policy that is addressing all these issues. We have also been creating awareness at the grassroots. But a lot needs to be done,” she adds.
Experts argue that while every case has unique circumstances, many share common warning signs: controlling relationships, unresolved conflict, economic stress, untreated mental health challenges and delayed reporting of abuse.
And as Kenya continues to be dogged by these realities, residents say legislation alone is not enough.
Communities must reject harmful cultural norms, strengthen family support systems, invest in counselling and mental health services, improve Police response and encourage survivors to seek help devoid of fear.
The voices from Nyeri carry one common message: gender-based violence is not simply a women’s issue or a men’s issue—it is a societal crisis.
And until every victim can report any form of abuse without fear and every perpetrator is held accountable, and communities choose dialogue over violence, the country risks witnessing more families torn apart by preventable tragedy.
By Samuel Maina and Patience Wangechi
