Yesterday, Voice of Dagoretti CBO was well represented at the CSOs feedback session hosted by Wangu Kanja Foundation, focusing on bridging the gap between survivor-led research and systemic change.

The research findings highlighted critical concerns around Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Kenya:

● A majority of survivors who sought treatment for sexual violence in 2018 had very few cases referred to court.

● Lack of finances remains a major barrier to accessing justice.

● Some families opt for customary dispute resolution instead of pursuing legal justice.

● Many Gender Desk officers are assigned without proper specialization or passion for handling GBV cases.

● Most survivors prefer reporting cases to NGOs working on SGBV because they feel assured of justice and proper follow-up.

● There is low trust in police Gender Officers,

● Different organizations use different reporting tools, creating inconsistencies in SGBV data management.

These findings clearly show the urgent need for:

● Standardized GBV reporting tools across organizations

●Stronger collaboration between CSOs, the Government of Kenya, and other stakeholders

● Comprehensive GBV training for all police officers before deployment

● Survivor-centered systems that build trust and accountability

It is time for CSOs working around GBV to come together and strengthen information sharing, advocacy, and coordinated action for the betterment of our communities.

To learn more about the research findings and recommendations on protecting SGBV survivors in Kenya, visit the Wangu Kanja Foundation website.