Kenya
In the wake of Kenya’s disputed December 2007 elections, violence erupted across the country, claiming more than 1,000 lives and displacing hundreds of thousands of people. Sexual violence was used against women and girls – and, to a lesser extent, men and boys.
While the official number of survivors documents 900 cases, our GRS estimated that the number was likely to reach 10,000 for the post-electoral period.
In 2025, GSF’s partnerships with Grace Agenda and the Utu Wetu Trust came to an end. Both organisations worked on strengthening the voices of survivors and civil society organisations (CSOs) involved in the transitional justice process initiated following the 2007-2008 post-electoral violence.
Grace Agenda supported more than 200 survivors in building their advocacy skills and clarifying their priorities when engaging with Kenyan authorities and policymakers. The impact of this was felt through survivors’ increased capacity to voice their demands to authorities as outlined in the Kinshasa Declaration. Psychosocial support was also provided to survivors during workshops and individual meetings, increasing their self-confidence and wellbeing. The organisation worked with teenagers born of sexual violence to ensure they received appropriate support, and helped them voice their needs within the reparations agenda presented to the State.
Project partners
Grace Agenda
Utu Wetu Trust
2021
2025
WORK ENDED
200
SURVIVORS SUPPORTED
The Utu Wetu Trust focused on the same objectives by reactivating the Kenya Transitional Justice Network (KTJN) – bringing together non-governmental organisations and survivors to advocate for reparations.
In February 2025, a policy dialogue involving survivors, civil society, and senior State officials was organised by Utu Wetu and Grace Agenda to raise awareness of the urgent needs still faced by survivors, and the lack of progress regarding reparations in the country. Following this persistent engagement, in July the State finally complied with a 2020 High Court ruling to pay compensation to four survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. This marked an important milestone for survivors’ rights and demonstrated the impact of collaboration between survivors and civil society.
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