Intimate partner violence (IPV) is the most prevalent form of violence, affecting at least 28.4 per cent of young women in partnerships in Nairobi, this is according to a survey conducted by Performance Monitoring for Action (PMA) Agile.
According to the PMA Agile 2.0 Nairobi Cohort 2024 survey, more young women have reported cases of physical and sexual assault. Non-partner sexual violence (NPSV) is less common, with 5.8 percent of young women in partnerships reporting such cases.
While releasing the findings, Prof Peter Gichangi, PMA Agile Principal Investigator, stated that the survey showed one in five young women in Nairobi had experienced physical violence, yet over 20 percent remained silent.
“Nearly one in five partnered young women reported that they experienced physical violence, while over one in five reported sexual violence in the past year,” Gichangi said.
Speaking at the launch of the PMA Agile 2.0 Nairobi Youth Cohort 2024 at the Githurai grounds in Roysambu Sub-County, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Research and Extension at the Technical University of Mombasa said that the study on gender-based violence (GBV), which will take place from October to December 2024, focused on pressing issues such as gender norms, sexual and reproductive health, and family planning among young women.
Gichangi stated that nearly half of young people with digital access are affected by technology-facilitated abuse, alongside economic control and reproductive coercion.
He added that technology quietly facilitates abuse by stripping young women of their autonomy and opportunities to progress, which can lead some to depression and suicide.
“Menstrual stigma also remains alarmingly widespread, with over 75 per cent of young women reporting having experienced it, an issue that has shown only a marginal decrease between 2023 and 2024,” he said.
“This issue of menstruation is not just a health issue. It is a barrier to attending school, participating in work, and engaging fully in community life,” Gichangi added.
He noted that the released data highlights the urgent need for comprehensive, youth-centred interventions and support systems to address all forms of gender-based violence, particularly within intimate relationships.
He identified fear, shame, distrust, obstructions by family and community members, and cultural practices as some of the barriers that prevent several survivors from seeking help.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor called upon Kenyans, particularly those in leadership positions, to embrace the survey findings, use them to plan and allocate resources, and design evidence-based interventions to end all forms of violence.
“Ending gender-based violence is not a solo mission; it requires collective resolve. Together we must unite, strategize and act decisively to eliminate all forms of violence against our youth,” he urged.
Gichangi also urged all stakeholders and partners to join forces to raise awareness of GBV, ensuring that all women are empowered and equipped with the knowledge, confidence and support systems they need to speak out and report GBV cases to the relevant authorities.