Girls from local schools in Kibera joined educators, legal experts, and government officials in an intergenerational dialogue last week aimed at confronting the growing problem of school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV).
The event, hosted at CFK Africa’s centre in Kibera by Women’s Link Worldwide in partnership with CFK Africa, drew participants from the Ministry of Education, the Legal Resources Foundation, and Olympic High School, among others.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), more than 40 percent of women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence, and 14 percent have suffered sexual violence. While the statistics are already alarming, experts say they likely understate the problem due to widespread stigma and fear surrounding gender-based violence (GBV).
SRGBV refers to violence that occurs in and around schools, including verbal abuse, physical assault, sexual harassment, and harmful traditional practices. It disproportionately affects girls and often leads to trauma, disrupted education, and long-term psychological harm.
“An intergenerational dialogue like this allows victims to be heard and builds mutual understanding across age groups,” said Beverly Mumbo, Senior Legal Programmes Manager at Women’s Link Worldwide. “It is a critical step toward sustainable solutions.”
The event served as a platform for students to share their lived experiences, and for policymakers to outline the actions being taken—and those still needed—to improve safety in schools.
Lynette Kituyi, SGBV Coordinator for Lang’ata Sub-county at the Ministry of Education, reaffirmed the government’s zero-tolerance policy for educators found to be perpetrators. She emphasised the need for gender-sensitive training for teachers and the creation of confidential reporting mechanisms.
At the school level, Olympic High School administrator Joyce Omondi said the institution had adopted strict codes of conduct and set up safe, confidential spaces for students to report abuse. “We are also integrating GBV awareness into our curriculum to ensure students and staff alike understand the issue,” she said.
Legal Resources Foundation representative Mildred Arum highlighted the challenges of pursuing justice for survivors. “Many cases never make it to court due to cultural pressures and fear of retaliation,” she noted. “We must support survivors to speak up and claim their right to protection under the law.”
Participants also discussed practical measures for improvement, including expanding anonymous reporting tools, training school staff to handle cases with professionalism, and building stronger relationships between schools and local communities.
Organisers said the forum was part of a broader effort to ensure that schools are not only places of learning, but also of safety and dignity for every child.
