By Mandere Onyinkwa
The British High Commission in Nairobi hosted a flagship event marking the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence (GBV).
The event brought together leaders and innovators committed to ending abuse in all its forms.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja joined Charge d’Affaires Dr. Ed Barnett to spotlight the UK-Kenya partnership that is reshaping how survivors are supported and how technology is harnessed to protect women and girls.
The gathering showcased survivor-centred policing, university-led research, and tech-driven solutions.
From the pilot of POLICARE and the Mombasa Situation Room to strengthened gender desks in police stations, the partnership has already begun to transform access to justice.
Collaboration between Kenyatta University, the University of Warwick and the British Council has produced innovative tools to combat online harassment, while the Gwiji app, born out of the TRANSFORM programme, connects domestic workers with clients in safer, more accountable ways.
In his keynote, Mr. Kanja described the digital space as “a double-edged sword,” offering empowerment but also exposing women to new forms of abuse.
He stressed that the National Police Service is determined to confront this “dark figure of crime” but cannot do so alone, calling the UK-Kenya alliance “a powerful partnership to tackle this challenge head-on.”
Dr. Barnett echoed the sentiment, affirming that survivors must remain at the centre of every response.
The event also highlighted broader initiatives: KICTANet’s work documenting the language of online abuse and training police and health workers on its mental health impacts.