PISCAA
Advocacy Campaign for the Kwale County Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Protection Act, 2023 (2024)
In 2024, the Hijabi Mentorship Program implemented a county-wide advocacy initiative focused on strengthening awareness, accountability, and implementation of the Kwale County Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Protection Act, 2023. The project was supported through the PISCCA Decid’Her Program in partnership with French Embassy in Kenya, CREAW Kenya, Hewlett Foundation, and Decid’Her.
The initiative was designed to strengthen public understanding of the newly enacted law, build institutional capacity for implementation, and improve survivor-centered responses to gender-based violence across Kwale County.
The project combined policy advocacy, public participation, media engagement, law enforcement training, community dialogue, and survivor-centered awareness campaigns to bridge the gap between legislation and lived realities for women and girls.
Key Milestones
Conducted county-wide advocacy activities across:
- Matuga
- Kinango
- Msambweni
- Lungalunga
strengthening awareness and public engagement around the Kwale County SGBV Act.
Trained:
- 40 law enforcement officers
- 40 stakeholders and duty bearers
- 120 community members
on survivor-centered approaches, implementation of the SGBV Act, referral pathways, and gender-sensitive response mechanisms.
Facilitated stakeholder engagement forums bringing together:
- Government officials
- Police officers
- Healthcare workers
- Community leaders
- Civil society organizations
to strengthen multi-sectoral collaboration on GBV prevention and response.
Organized public participation and advocacy forums focused on:
- County planning and budgeting
- Survivor protection services
- Safe houses and recovery centers
- Public accountability in SGBV response systems
Conducted multiple radio advocacy sessions through Radio Kaya and Jay FM, reaching an estimated audience of over 250,000 listeners with discussions on:
- Survivor rights
- Public participation
- Youth leadership
- Role of men in GBV prevention
- Implementation of the SGBV Act
Developed and disseminated Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials, including posters and simplified advocacy resources placed in:
- Schools
- Hospitals
- Markets
- Public spaces
across Kwale County.
Strengthened survivor-centered advocacy approaches by promoting:
- Confidential reporting pathways
- Psychosocial support referrals
- Trauma-informed case handling
- Community-based support systems
Contributed to strengthening county-level policy dialogue and advocacy efforts, including:
- Participation in the first Sexual Violence Protection Board discussions
- THMP’s inclusion in sector working groups focused on implementation of the SGBV Act
Elevated conversations around:
- Safe houses for survivors
- Budget allocation for GBV prevention
- Translation of the Act into local languages
- Public accountability and community ownership
through continuous advocacy and media engagement.
Integrated innovative advocacy approaches including:
- Media-driven policy engagement
- Survivor-centered storytelling
- Digital advocacy campaigns
- Youth-led engagement models
Strategic Contribution
This initiative helped transform the Kwale County SGBV Act from a legal framework into a more visible public accountability issue by strengthening awareness, institutional engagement, and grassroots advocacy.
The project also reinforced the importance of survivor-centered systems, multi-sectoral coordination, and public participation in advancing justice, protection, and gender equality within underserved communities.
