Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) is on the rise in Kenya, with alarming statistics pointing to its widespread impact. According to a 2023 report by the Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet), more than 30 percent of the population has experienced some form of TFGBV, while 90 percent have witnessed it.
As digital platforms become central to communication and self-expression, gender-based violence has evolved to take on new, more insidious forms in the online space. Researcher Surabhi Srivastava notes that the digital landscape has intensified the risks faced by women, girls, and marginalized communities.
“GBV continues to evolve as technology develops, especially among women and girls, changing its name to TFGBV. It comes in the form of online harassment, doxing, cyberstalking, and deepfake abuse,” she explains.
TFGBV refers to any act of gender-based violence that is committed, aggravated, or amplified through the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) such as social media, messaging platforms, websites, or other digital tools. A joint report by UN Women and the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) highlights that these forms of violence disproportionately affect women and marginalized groups, deepening existing inequalities.
One particularly damaging form of TFGBV is gender-based disinformation. This involves the deliberate spread of false or misleading content to discredit, shame, or intimidate targets. Experts point to the “8 Ps” framework—profit, power, prestige, partisanship, propaganda, provocation, polarization, and parody—as key drivers behind these online abuse and disinformation campaigns.
With the advancement of technology, new avenues for abuse continue to emerge. Surabhi Srivastava warns of the rise in deepfake abuse—non-consensual creation or manipulation of sexually explicit images or videos using artificial intelligence. Other prevalent forms include image-based sexual abuse, cyberflashing, trolling, cyberstalking, and doxing—the act of publicly revealing someone’s private or identifying information without their consent, often as a form of intimidation.
In response to the growing threat of TFGBV, RNW Media, a digital rights organization based in the Netherlands, recently organized a three-day training fellowship in Nairobi. The event, led by Srivastava and journalist Sam Moseti, brought together ten journalists and researchers to promote rights-based reporting on TFGBV.
During the training, Srivastava emphasized the importance of trauma-informed and survivor-centered journalism. “Responsible reporting can help shift the narrative and protect survivors from further harm,” she stressed, urging media professionals to avoid sensationalism, disinformation, or victim-blaming narratives in their coverage.
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The impacts of TFGBV are increasingly visible in Kenya, especially among women journalists, politicians, human rights defenders, and public figures. One anonymized case shared during the training involved “Lina,” an investigative reporter who faced a vicious online backlash after exposing corruption in a high-profile political office. In retaliation, fake nude images, doctored screenshots, and false tweets accusing her of bribery were widely circulated. Lina also received rape and death threats, jeopardizing both her safety and her credibility.
Another survivor, Brenda, recounted how a simple post against femicide on Instagram triggered a wave of online abuse. “I posted a picture with a quote against femicide. I received insults from followers and non-followers. When I asked my friends about it, they said it’s normal to be abused online,” she recalled, highlighting the normalization of digital violence.
Similarly, Henix, a male survivor, described having to delete several posts due to persistent online attacks. “I’ve deleted videos and photos because of online abuse,” he shared.
Survivors of TFGBV are encouraged to report such incidents through both online and offline channels. On digital platforms, they can use built-in reporting tools to flag abusive content. Offline, legal recourse includes filing police reports, pursuing cybercrime or defamation charges, and contacting the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner to safeguard their digital privacy.
Experts caution that while TFGBV often begins in digital spaces, its consequences frequently spill into the physical world. Victims may suffer psychological, sexual, socio-political, or physical harm. The emotional toll can be severe, leading to stress, anxiety, depression, shame, and, in extreme cases, suicidal thoughts or attempts.
As Kenya continues its rapid digitization, there is a pressing need to foster awareness, digital literacy, and responsible online behavior. Without these, digital spaces risk becoming hostile, especially for vulnerable groups. Ensuring safety in the digital realm is no longer optional—it is a necessity.
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