For years, intellectually challenged women and girls in Kenya have faced systemic discrimination, not just from society but also from the very laws meant to protect them. Until 2024, Section 146 of the Penal Code and Section 125(2) of the Evidence Act referred to intellectually challenged individuals using derogatory terms such as “idiots” and “imbeciles” … Read more
Brief Description Participatory gender-responsive budgeting and community scorecards provide women, including those with disabilities, platforms to present their collective interests to policymakers, influence more inclusive budgetary allocation and improve service delivery in Kwale County, Kenya. Problems and Purpose Kwale County is among the poorest and most marginalized counties in Kenya, with a poverty rate of … Read more
Press StatementFor Immediate ReleaseBroken System, Broken Lives: Kenya’s Failed Response to Femicide Over the past couple of months there has been a disturbing surge in femicide cases in Kenya, with no end in sight. News reports are filled with stories of young women whose lives were tragically cut short. This month alone, we have witnessed … Read more
The Coalition on Violence Against Women (COVAW) expresses profound sadness and outrage over the unfolding discovery of multiple bodies at the Kware dumpsite in Nairobi’s Mukuru kwa Njenga informal settlement. During a press statement held yesterday, Acting Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja stated that eight bodies had been recovered as of July 13, 2024. Preliminary investigations indicate that all the recovered bodies are female.
The recent, horrifying killing of Starlet Wahu, 26 year old and an unidentified 24-year-old woman who was found murdered in Roysambu is a clear reminder of the femicide crisis plaguing Kenya, where women are not safe.
A Proposal of Matuga Sub-County Community Members on Gender Responsive BudgetingPresented to the County Government of Kwale on 02.02.2021 Background of the organization The Coalition on Violence Against Women (COVAW) is a national Kenyan not-for-profit women’s rights organization. We are committed to advancing women’s rights; and work towards achieving a society free from all forms … Read more
To, Hon. Prof Margret KobiaCabinet Secretary, Public Service, and GenderHon. Mutahi Kagwe,Cabinet Secretary for Health and Chairperson, National Emergency Response Committee on CoronavirusHon. Simon K. Chelugui,Cabinet Secretary for Labour, Social Security and ServicesDr. Fred Okengo Matiang’i,Cabinet Secretary for Interior & Coordination of National GovernmentHon. David Maraga,Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya,Mr. … Read more
The Right to Remain Uncut “Before my parents, before my family and before my village-I declare my right to remain uncut. To keep my body whole and free from tetanus infection and HIV. Free from harm, violence and pain so that girls like me across the world can remain in school. Be married when I … Read more
19 participants representing state and non-state actors met at Pinecone Hotel, Kisumu County for a two-day training workshop between 28th and 29th May, 2019. The workshop aimed at strengthening capacity of the participants to effectively respond to rights of sexual violence victims in Kisumu County. The training workshop also sought to re-enforce the responsiveness and … Read more
In the month of May, 2019, 30 paralegals from Nairobi, Kiambu and Narok Counties were trained on Human Rights and the Legal Framework on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The training also sought to equip them with knowledge on the Reporting Mechanism and … Read more