Outcome RD_D_1.2

Outcome 2: By 2026, people in Kenya at risk of being left - particularly all women and girls, all children and youth, all people in the ASAL counties and in informal urban settlements - have improved, inclusive and equitable social and protection services

In 2023, UN Women made significant progress to ensure that women and girls having improved, inclusive and equitable social and protection services. Kenya witnessed improved access by SGBV survivors to social and protection services, especially related to access to justice, between 2021 to 2023. The legal and policy framework was also enhanced through the review of the National GBV Policy (2014), 13 counties [1] developing GBV policies/laws and the Judiciary and Universities putting in place policies, strategies and practices to address gender-based discrimination. These results are part of the Government’s 12 commitments under the Generation Equality Forum. The Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 20 23 indicated positive trends in terms of EVAWG with fewer women and girls experiencing violence in 2022 compared with 2014: physical and sexual violence (from 20% to 16%), sexual violence (from 7.6% to 6.42%), and Female Genital Mutilation (from 21% to 15%). Data from the State of the Judiciary and Administration of Justice Reports (SOJAR) further revealed an increase in the numbers of filed sexual offences cases, from 8,657 (2022) to 8,699 (2023). SOJAR data also showed an increase in the number of resolved cases from 6,043 (2021) to 8,498 (2022) and 10,291 (2023). The number of women and girls who accessed essential services also increased as per data from the national GBV helpline Health Assistance Kenya- from 4693 (2020), 3205 (2021), 5689 (2022) to 8,894 (2023). UN Women, with implementing partners such as Advocates for Social Change in Kenya (ADSOCK), World Vision, Action Aid, Healthcare Assistance Kenya (HAK 1195), International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ), Center for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW), Wangu Kanja Foundation, the Gender Violence Recovery Centre (GVRC), and Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), played a vital role in contributing to these outcomes. Efforts included working with IAWJ and the office of the Chief Justice (CJ) to develop two gender-responsive strategies (SGBV, and Child Justice) at the national level, creating the convicted Sexual Offenders Electronic Register, supporting the establishment and operationalization of 12 specialized SGBV courts [2] , training justice actors, carry out advocacy, contribute to the development of national and county GBV laws and policies, conduct annual budget analyses and deliver essential services to survivors. UN Women played a key technical and financial role to the KDHS, by supporting the design, implementation, analysis and reporting of the GBV and FGM module. UN Women actively enhanced the capacity of implementing partners on: EVAWG, finance and Monitoring and Evaluation and fostered collaboration to achieve more robust results and coordination. The office of the Chief Justice recognized the role of UN Women in enhancing the Judiciary and appreciating our role and support to the office through formal communication. Thus far the original strategy and ToC for this outcome is still applicable. If, as anticipated, the established 12 SGBV courts continue to be functional and more SGBV courts are established in GBV hotspots, while implementing the CJ’s strategies and GBV laws/policies, the number of SGBV cases resolved will continue to increase in Kenya. This will in turn have a positive impact in the lives of women and girl survivors in the country, because the court processing will be shortened and GoK commitments implemented. While the trends in GBV prevalence are encouraging, and the measures adopted by the Judiciary to improve justice outcomes for survivors and end impunity for perpetrators commendable, gaps persist in government financing for GBV programmes, the scale of interventions remains small compared to the need, prevention programmes are still confined to a few donor funded counties, and overall accountability for implementing the GEF commitments remains weak. UN Women together with its partners will therefore continue to advocate, increase resource mobilization and build strong collaboration with key partners and stakeholders. By investing in strong partnerships with the key government institutions and collaborating with the justice system partners and the national police, UN Women has increased its visibility. [1] Samburu, Isiolo, Narok, Kisii, Migori, Kajiado, Garissa, Meru, Kisumu, Kitui, Kwale, Marsabit and Turkana [2] Shanzu, Kibera, Makadara, Meru, Nakuru, Kiambu, Machakos, Kisii, Kitale, Kakamega, Kisumu, and Siaya

Outcome 2: By 2026, people in Kenya at risk of being left - particularly all women and girls, all children and youth, all people in the ASAL counties and in informal urban settlements - have improved, inclusive and equitable social and protection services

In 2024, UN Women made significant strides in strengthening social and protection services for women and girls in Kenya, particularly for those at risk of being left behind. Advocacy efforts played a critical role in driving action against femicide and GBV. UN Women and its partners issued public statements condemning femicide and GBV during national and county protests, catalyzing governmental responses. This resulted in notable outcomes, such as the establishment of a sex crimes unit by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to handle femicide cases and the introduction of a hotline for expedited reporting. Further, the President committed Ksh. 100 million to the Safe Home, Safe Space Campaign to end femicide across the country. This underscored the national government’s recognition of femicide as a critical issue and the urgency to address it comprehensively. Advocacy led by CREAW, with UN Women’s support, targeted systemic issues, such as sexual harassment in workplaces and called for accountability in high-profile cases. At the national level, the Kenya Law Reform Commission advanced critical legal reforms to align Kenya’s framework with international standards, addressing systemic inequalities. UN Women’s support contributed to key recommendations, including amendments to the Matrimonial Property Act, Marriage Act, and Land Registration Act, ensuring greater protections for women in marriage and property rights. On GBV, proposed changes to the Sexual Offences Act, including criminalizing marital rape and removing the admissibility of survivors’ sexual history, aim to create a survivor-centered legal framework. Additionally, reforms to the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act and the Victim Protection Act seek to strengthen accountability and provide comprehensive support for survivors. These legal reforms are foundational in addressing entrenched gender stereotypes and systemic discrimination. At the county level, Kilifi county developed and launched an SGBV Policy and the formulation of the Gender and Development Policy. The policies provide a roadmap for addressing GBV, harmful cultural practices and gender inequalities while ensuring survivors have access to essential services such as healthcare, psychosocial support, and safe shelters. UN Women’s technical assistance, capacity-building initiatives, and stakeholder engagement were instrumental in these achievements. In the humanitarian sector, UN Women’s response to the 2024 MAM floods exemplified a gender-sensitive approach to disaster response. By conducting a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA), UN Women identified the disproportionate impact on women, girls, the elderly, PWDs and unaccompanied children. The evidence informed targeted interventions, such as providing dignity kits to adolescent girls and young mothers, and cash transfers, medical care, and legal aid to 322 SGBV survivors. In total, over 10,000 individuals benefited from services, including rescue coordination and virtual counseling provided by Healthcare Assistance Kenya. UN Women’s partnerships enhanced emergency response capacities and mitigated vulnerabilities to GBV. Collaborative efforts with WROs like the Wangu Kanja Foundation and HAK 1195 ensured comprehensive service delivery, while coordination with government agencies and UN entities strengthened the overall disaster response system. UN Women also enhanced access to GBV services through HAK’s 1195 helpline, which connects survivors to critical services across Kenya’s 47 counties. HAK 1195 provided essential services to 9,080 GBV survivors at the national level. This marks a 2% increase from 8,894 survivors in 2023/2024 and 7,326 in 2022/2023 and highlights growing awareness among survivors and the public. Technical and financial support improved database systems ensured adherence to the “Do No Harm” principle and developed satisfaction surveys to monitor service quality. While satisfaction with HAK services reached 93%, challenges in referral pathways, such as delays and systemic barriers, identified areas for continued improvement. Capacity-building for 34 organizations on emergency response and the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) further amplified impact. Through these efforts, UN Women has not only addressed immediate needs but also laid the groundwork for sustainable and inclusive systems that protect and empower women and girls.