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Govt unveils WhatsApp platform to simplify gender based violence reporting
25th May, 2026 11:06 PM
The Kenyan government has launched a national WhatsApp platform to strengthen reporting, protection and response to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) as the country faces rising cases of femicide and technology-facilitated violence.
The State Department for Gender Affairs on Monday, May 25, 2026, unveiled the National GBV Reporting WhatsApp platform (+254 724 88 4444) during the Second Bi-Annual National Gender Sector Working Group meeting. The confidential platform is designed to provide survivors with immediate access to psychological support, legal counselling and referral services.
Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services Cabinet Secretary Hannah Cheptumo described the initiative as a “groundbreaking intervention” aimed at improving access to support through Kenya’s growing digital connectivity.
“This tool provides immediate, automated, and confidential psychological support, legal counseling, and direct referral mechanisms for survivors of online and physical violence,” Cheptumo said.
She added that the platform would help improve prevention and response efforts while making support services more accessible to survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
New climate action guidelines
During the same meeting, the government also unveiled the Guidelines for Gender Mainstreaming into Climate Action. The framework seeks to integrate gender considerations into climate change interventions across sectors, recognising the disproportionate impact of climate-related disasters on women and vulnerable groups.
The event brought together representatives from government agencies, development partners and civil society organisations to discuss gender-related policy implementation and response measures.
The launch comes amid growing concern over increasing cases of GBV and femicide across the country. On May 21, 2026, the Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) described the rise in cases as a “full-blown national security and public health crisis.”
AMWIK called on the government to declare GBV and femicide a national emergency, criminalise femicide as a separate offence, establish a national digital offender database and increase funding for shelters and psychosocial support services.
Stronger action against GBV and femicide
Human rights activist Boniface Mwangi has also urged President William Ruto to implement recommendations made by the 42-member Presidential Task Force on GBV and Femicide. The calls intensified following the death of gospel singer Rachel Wandeto, who suffered burn injuries after an attack in Mwiki, Kasarani.
In the Central Region, Cheptumo directed a 90-day Rapid Results Initiative targeting rising SGBV, child abduction and murder cases, with the goal of declaring the region SGBV-free within 11 months through multi-agency cooperation.
Previous interventions have included the deployment of additional police officers in hotspot areas and the establishment of specialised SGBV courts by the Judiciary. However, rights groups including Amnesty International Kenya have raised concerns over delays in implementing key task force recommendations.
The World Health Organisation estimates that one in three Kenyan women is at risk of SGBV, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing the country.
