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Actress Queen Gathoni moves Martha Karua with courageous GBV testimony
18th July, 2026 03:54 PM
Actress Queen Gathoni has opened up about surviving gender-based violence, saying she has chosen to use her story to encourage other survivors.
She explained that she produced a theatre show, Free Me, based on her own experience to show that domestic violence and physical abuse do not have to define a person’s future. Her testimony later received a response from Martha Karua on Saturday, July 18, 2026.
Gathoni explained that the production was staged in November 2025 and again in June 2026. She said the performances were built around her personal journey of surviving gender-based violence and finding the strength to keep going.
“I produce theatre, but I am also a survivor of gender based violence. In November last year, and June of this year, I staged a show which was fully based on my life and surviving gender based violence,” Gathoni said.
She said she continues to use her voice to remind survivors that there is hope beyond abuse. Gathoni explained that surviving violence has inspired her to speak out and encourage others facing similar experiences.
“I am standing here today, not just as a survivor but as a person who is constantly fighting and using my voice to ensure that survivors realise that domestic violence and physical abuse is not the end of our lives,” Gathoni said.
Karua calls for support for survivors
Martha Karua responded to Gathoni’s testimony by saying it highlighted the challenges many survivors continue to face even after experiencing abuse. She explained that silence, shame and isolation remain heavy burdens for many people.
“@queengathoni’s testimony reminded us that the greatest burden many survivors carry is the silence, shame, and isolation that often follow,” Karua said.
Karua also called on different groups in society to play a role in supporting survivors. She said families, neighbours, faith leaders, employers, educators and institutions all have a responsibility to ensure survivors are treated with dignity and protected.
“Our duty as families, neighbours, faith leaders, employers, educators, and institutions is to ensure every survivor is met with belief, dignity, protection, and justice,” Karua said.
Karua added that ending gender-based violence requires a change in how society responds to abuse. She said the focus should shift from placing the burden on survivors to holding those responsible accountable.
“Ending gender-based violence begins when we stop asking survivors to carry society’s burden and start demanding accountability from the abusers! That is how we end gender-based violence,” Karua said.
