Justice at last: SGBV survivors relieved as offenders convicted

The aunt of a 14-year-old girl, a survivor of sexual violence, is finally relishing a sense of justice in Kibera, Nairobi.

The young survivor has found relief after the defilement perpetrator was handed a sentence by the courts. Her aunt says the decision has restored her niece’s sense of safety and her ability to carry on with daily life.

“For months, my niece couldn’t sleep or leave the house. When the judgment came, she felt relieved, and our community now believes the law can work,” her aunt said, speaking anonymously to protect the minor.

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A rise in convictions for sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) across Kenya is offering survivors a rare sense of accountability, drawing attention to the country’s slow justice processes even as this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign continues.

National figures indicate progress alongside persistent challenges. UN Women reports that SGBV cases increased from 6,043 in 2021 to more than 10,000 in 2023, supported by the Judiciary’s Social Transformation through Access to Justice agenda and the expansion of specialised SGBV courts.

However, femicide cases still take an average of around 1,900 days—over five years—to conclude, and at least 160 femicides were recorded in 2024, according to independent monitors. In informal settlements, where reporting has historically been suppressed by stigma, cost, and delays, these shifts are beginning to make a visible impact.

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Internal 2025 data from Shining Hope for Communities (Shofco), which works with marginalised populations, show 4,124 sexual violence cases were reported to the organisation this year. Of these, 1,604 were referred to the police, 422 reached full hearings, and 133 resulted in judgments.

Ninety-eight of the judgments led to convictions. Shofco provided case management, psychosocial support, health referrals, and legal services to survivors, with 773 receiving dedicated legal aid. Shofco Chief Executive Officer Kennedy Odede said the rise in convictions reflects growing community confidence that justice is possible.

“Every conviction sends a message that survivors are seen and supported. Girls and women in informal settlements have lived in silence for far too long because justice felt out of reach. These results show that progress is happening from the community up,” said Mr Odede.

He, however, cautioned that slow case handling still threatens outcomes. “Convictions matter, but speed matters just as much. When cases drag for years, evidence weakens and families lose hope. Kenya must invest in faster SGBV processes if this momentum is to continue,” he added.

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Shofco Project Director Angela Ng’etich said many cases collapse because of repeated adjournments, witness challenges, or long delays between mentions and hearings. “Resourcing magistrate courts, expanding fast-track mechanisms, and strengthening forensic capacity would transform outcomes for survivors,” she said.

County governments, meanwhile, have begun expanding protection services, including new safe houses and child-friendly facilities to ease case backlogs. Meru County recently announced additional infrastructure to support SGBV and children’s cases.

Despite these challenges, organisations like Shofco report growing willingness among survivors to report abuse, aided by closer coordination between police gender desks, community gender champions, and health facilities.

Community leaders also note the change. “People used to think reporting was pointless. Now we’ve seen perpetrators go to jail. Survivors are speaking up and communities are refusing to hide abuse,” said Simon Oketch, a Mathare-based community leader.