Help on the move: GBV campaign hits Nairobi with digital vans and round-the-clock helpline
Anti-GBV banners are displayed ahead of the flagging off of cars for a digital campaign at the Teleposta Huduma Centre along Kenyatta Avenue, Nairobi,on June 9, 2025.
What you need to know:
- Mobile campaign and 1195 hotline unveiled to support GBV survivors and promote zero tolerance nationwide against femicide.
- The government has rolled out tech-driven response to GBV, spotlighting prevention, survivor support, and urgent action.
In a move to tackle the rising cases of gender-based violence, the Ministry of Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage on Monday launched a six-week Top Car Digital Campaign and unveiled a 24/7 toll-free helpline—1195—that allows survivors and the public to report cases anonymously.
Both interventions aim to raise awareness, enhance prevention, and improve access to support services for victims of gender-based violence (GBV), including femicide, which continues to claim lives and go underreported across Kenya.
The campaign was flagged off at the Teleposta Huduma Centre along Kenyatta Avenue by Cabinet Secretary Hanna Wendot Cheptumo, who affirmed the government’s commitment to ending violence against women and girls.
“For the last six months, more than 100 cases of femicide were reported, while many others may have gone unreported,” the CS noted. “GBV, including femicide, is a heinous act that must be condemned, and appropriate actions implemented against the perpetrators.”
According to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2022, 34 per cent of women aged 15–49 have experienced physical violence, while 13 per cent have encountered sexual violence. Recent media reports and civil society records indicate a surge in femicide, especially in urban areas like Nairobi, Kisumu, and Nakuru.
In early 2024 alone, at least 50 women were reportedly killed in suspected femicide cases, sparking nationwide protests and renewed calls for state intervention. Many victims are young women attacked by partners or acquaintances, often in intimate settings. These harrowing figures underscore the urgency of the government’s campaign.
The Top Car Digital Campaign will see four branded vehicles broadcast anti-GBV and femicide messages across Nairobi via mounted screens and digital audio systems. These mobile platforms will disseminate vital information on how to recognise abuse, how survivors can seek help, and the importance of community responsibility in protecting vulnerable groups.
“Digital campaigns are one of our innovative strategies to accelerate sensitization against GBV, including femicide,” said CS Cheptumo. “Recent studies have revealed that technology-facilitated GBV is on the increase, and in response, we should leverage technology to fight back.”
The vehicles will also help amplify the government’s toll-free hotline number 1195, which allows survivors and those at risk to report anonymously and receive support services. This line, operational 24/7 and free for life, is a cornerstone of the national strategy to strengthen response. The campaign seeks to triple its outreach during this six-week period and reinforce that help is accessible to all, regardless of age or background.
The CS emphasised that this campaign is not just a reaction to statistics but a reflection of a broader policy shift. “The government has committed to eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls to promote gender equality and women empowerment,” she said.
The campaign is expected to expand into other major towns, including Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, and Nakuru. This replication strategy is meant to build a sustained, nationwide culture of zero tolerance for GBV.
As the cars rolled out from Teleposta Huduma Centre, adorned with powerful visuals and survivor-centric slogans, the message was clear: it’s time to confront the culture of silence and impunity that surrounds GBV. For any person in need of help, support, or advice regarding GBV, the toll-free number 1195 is available—confidential, accessible, and for life.