National dialogue on protection centres proposes 3 pillars to end GBV menace in Kenya

For years, Lucy Ochieng (not her real name) lived in fear.

After surviving severe sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), she sought help from several institutions in Nairobi, hoping to find safety and support.

Instead, she encountered a fragmented system with few functional safe shelters and limited survivor services.

“I was moving from one office to another looking for help. I needed a safe place to stay, counselling and support to rebuild my life,” she told participants at the National Dialogue on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Protection Centres in Nairobi.

Her turning point came when she was referred to a Shofco safe house, where she received shelter, psychosocial support, legal assistance and economic empowerment services.

Today, she has successfully reintegrated into society and is rebuilding her life.

Lucy’s story set the tone for the two-day National Dialogue convened jointly by Shofco and the State Department for Gender Affairs and Affirmative Action, bringing together government officials, legislators, development partners, civil society organisations and survivors to chart a new path in the fight against GBV.

At the heart of the discussions was a stark reality: despite progressive laws and policies, thousands of survivors across Kenya still struggle to access protection, justice and recovery services.

The conference concluded with a call for action built around three pillars: strengthening legal and policy frameworks, establishing sustainable financing mechanisms including a GBV Fund; and creating a coordinated national implementation roadmap for protection centres across all 47 counties.

Opening the dialogue, Secretary to the Cabinet Mercy Wanjau said Kenya had made notable progress in addressing GBV but significant gaps remained in survivor protection services.

“GBV shelters are more than just buildings. They are places of refuge, healing, protection and hope,” she said.

Wanjau noted that although government, county administrations, faith-based organisations and civil society groups had established shelters and recovery centres, demand continued to outstrip available services.

According to her, the government has established Gender Violence Recovery Centres in Level Four and Five hospitals in all 47 counties, two Policare Centres under the National Police Service, and 11 community-based rescue centres in 10 counties through the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF).

Additionally, the Ministry of Gender has secured funding for the construction of new rescue centres in Kisumu and Kwale counties.

“Many counties still lack adequate shelters, forcing survivors to remain in abusive environments or travel long distances to access protection,” she said.

Wanjau identified key challenges facing protection centres, including inadequate funding, weak referral systems, lack of standard operating procedures, insufficient psychosocial services, harmful cultural norms and poor coordination among stakeholders.

Principal Secretary for Gender Affairs and Affirmative Action Anne Wang’ombe painted a worrying picture of the state of GBV in Kenya.

She said recent public hearings conducted by the Presidential Technical Working Group on GBV and Femicide revealed widespread concerns about the lack of shelters, safe spaces and psychosocial support services for survivors.

“Even where these facilities exist, many are in poor condition, have outdated infrastructure and are understaffed,” Wang’ombe said.

The PS noted that the challenge was particularly acute in rural and underserved regions where protection services remained inaccessible to many survivors.

“The diversity of stakeholders gathered here demonstrates that ending gender-based violence requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach,” she said.

The urgency of the matter was underscored by statistics presented during the conference.

Data cited from the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey shows that 34 per cent of women in Kenya have experienced physical violence since the age of 15, while 13 per cent have experienced sexual violence.

Reports also indicate that at least eight femicide cases are reported every week in Kenya, translating to the loss of approximately one woman or girl every day.

Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris Kenya already possesses strong constitutional and legal provisions, including the Protection Against Domestic Violence Act and the Sexual Offences Act, but implementation gaps continue to undermine their effectiveness.

“Protection centres cannot depend on donor funding or goodwill alone. They must be anchored in law and supported through predictable public financing,” she said.

Shofco Founder and CEO Dr Kennedy Odede urged the government to learn from community-driven models that have proven successful in supporting survivors.

He said Shofco has invested heavily in survivor-centred interventions, including operating safe houses that provide emergency shelter, counselling, legal support, case management and economic reintegration services.

“Every survivor deserves a place where they can find safety, dignity and hope,” Odede said.

He explained that Shofco’s experience had demonstrated the importance of integrated services under one roof, allowing survivors to access medical care, psychosocial support, legal assistance and economic empowerment without navigating multiple institutions.

Odede noted that survivors often face retraumatisation when forced to move from police stations to hospitals, courts and social service offices in search of help.

“Our safe house model shows that when services are integrated and survivor-centred, recovery becomes faster and more effective,” he said.

He called for the establishment of fully functional protection centres in all 47 counties and urged the government to develop clear standards, sustainable financing mechanisms and stronger partnerships with civil society organisations already providing frontline services.

Speaking on behalf of the National Shelters Network, Edith Murogo noted that shelters provide safety, and a pathway to recovery, often serving as the first place where survivors feel believed and protected.

“The evidence is clear: shelters work, shelters save lives and restore dignity,” she said, urging sustained support for both state and non-state shelters across the country.