MOMBASA, Kenya—December 5, 2025—Stakeholders led by nongovernmental Organisation Search for Common Ground (SFCG) have intensified efforts to combat Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) through training and guidance targeting internet users, influencers and content creators across the six coastal counties of Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Tara river, Taita taveta and Lamu.
The initiative, conducted under the organisation’s “Digital Stewards” program, seeks to equip online actors with skills to detect, prevent and report online abuse.
The training brought together digital creators who actively manage platforms such as Facebook, X, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn. SFCG worked jointly with Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI), Sauti ya Wanawake, the Mombasa County Government, CREAW, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), IPOA and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in a coordinated push to curb rising forms of TFGBV.
SFCG Programs Manager Hesbon Ndung’u urged stakeholders to unite in tackling TFGBV, especially during the ongoing 16 Days of Activism and beyond. He noted that TFGBV should be fought alongside traditional forms of Gender-Based Violence, as both pose social and psychological harm to survivors.
Ndung’u described influencers and content creators as crucial actors in exposing societal and digital evils. He said emerging online trends—including cyberbullying, doxxing, body shaming, cyberstalking and revenge pornography—continue to inflict physical and emotional harm on victims.
Despite the absence of a unified legal framework specifically addressing TFGBV, Ndung’u said existing laws can still be applied if cases are promptly reported to authorities. He noted that community awareness is gradually improving, with more people understanding how to stay safe online and protect fellow users.
The task
He challenged trained digital stewards to act as ambassadors of change at grassroots level by educating communities on safe internet use. With youth being the biggest consumers of digital platforms, Ndung’u said they must be encouraged to use the internet for positive opportunities rather than engaging in online abuse.
He emphasized the need for individuals to secure their digital accounts using strong passwords to prevent hacking and other forms of misuse. Influencers and content creators, he said, must remain alert to emerging online threats so they can better protect themselves and other users.
Under the program, digital stewards will act as frontline defenders of online safety by identifying and reporting TFGBV cases. They will also help counter harmful behaviours such as sharing other people’s images without consent, fueling cyberbullying or triggering online hate.
The initiative will be rolled out across all six coastal counties—Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, Tana River and Taita Taveta—as well as Nairobi, to capture the capital’s digital safety landscape.
Ndung’u said empowering youth is crucial as they serve as a link between communities and digital spaces.
Meanwhile, stakeholders are discussing potential policy reforms to address TFGBV more comprehensively, including recommendations for a specific national law. Ndung’u further warning that online harassment, particularly against women and girls, can fuel discrimination and potentially push victims towards extremism if left unchecked.
“The Coast region is already grappling with issues of terrorism and violent extremism. Online violence, hate and discrimination can easily drive vulnerable individuals down the wrong path,” Ndung’u said, calling on communities to remain vigilant.
He urged Kenyans to collectively fight TFGBV and ensure digital spaces remain safe for all users.
