Gender Theme: Gender Justice The Gender Component contributes to the transformation of gender relations in Kenya and the region in order to realize human rights for all members of society. Our main focus areas enhance women’s effective political participation in Kenya, challenge patriarchy and democratic rollback in the region from a feminist perspective, and amplify gender and sexual minority rights through regional networking, learning processes, capacity building, awareness creation, research and documentation of experiences of women leaders. The programme also builds knowledge and facilitates discourse on gender diversity. Offline Wounds: A Sauti Session Dialogue on Confronting Digital Violence Article hbs recently partnered with Sauti Sessions and Baraza Media Lab to spotlight the growing crisis of Technologically Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) in Kenya. Though it happens online, its impacts are deeply offline, fueling harm, trauma, and in some cases escalating to femicide. As the world marks the 2025 16 Days of Activism under the theme “UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls,” the dialogue underscored the urgent need for stronger protections and safer digital spaces for women and girls. Reshaping Narratives : Media Engagement Strategies for LGBTIQ+ Persons in Kenya Article The Heinrich Böll Foundation (hbs) Nairobi, in partnership with the Initiative for Equality and Non-Discrimination (INEND), has released a new publication titled Reshaping Narratives: Media Engagement Strategies for LGBTIQ+ Persons in Kenya. The report examines how the Kenyan media portrays sexual and gender minorities and explores practical strategies for fostering more inclusive, accurate, and ethical reporting. By combining community insights, journalist perspectives, and media analysis, the study highlights both the progress made and the ongoing challenges in ensuring fair representation, dignity, and equality for LGBTIQ+ persons in Kenya. Environment Theme: Environment The Environment component operates projects and activities in the East and Horn of Africa under the umbrella of three priority areas; Climate change, Food Security, Extractive Industries. Renewable energy ideas and strategies are also considered. What Kenya Can Learn from Germany’s Energy Shift. Article As the climate crisis intensifies, how we produce and consume energy is under growing scrutiny. The energy sector contributes over 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with electricity and heat generation as the largest culprits. According to International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), renewable electrification of end-use sectors could mitigate at least 20% of emissions by 2050 Fredrick Njau Plastic Pollution Is a Gender Issue, the Global Treaty Must Say So Article As world leaders meet in Geneva, Switzerland, for the final round of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC-5.2) one truth must not be overlooked: Plastic pollution is also a gender issue. Faiba Kombo Democracy Dialogue and Civic Spaces MISSING VOICES ANNUAL REPORT 2024: ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES INCREASED BY 450% IN 2024 Press Release There are five major highlights of this year’s 2024 Missing Voices Report Enforced disappearances by police up by nearly five times from 2023 June and July were the deadliest months, same in 2023 Nairobi was the deadliest county for EJKs followed by Kiambu and Migori Less than 2% of police related EJKs are in court Most victims of enforced disappearances were neither prosecuted nor allowed to demonstrate their innocence in court of law. They have not received justice or compensation by the time of the report. POLICE IMPUNITY: WHAT THE MARAGA TASKFORCE SAID The Maraga Task Force submitted its report to President William Ruto in November 2023. The task force was established to identify the legal, policy, administrative, institutional, and operational challenges hindering effective service delivery by the National Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service, and the National Youth Service. This article from the Missing Voices Report 2023 provides detailed insights into the outcomes of the Maraga report. Missing Voices International Dialogue Theme: International Dialogue Add here the beginning of the text about International Dialogue Missing voices Annual Report 2023 | End Police Impunity Press Release On Wednesday, April 24th, 2024, the Missing Voices Coalition launched its 2023 Annual Report focused on the theme "End Police Impunity" at the Heinrich Boell Foundation, Nairobi Office. Faiba Kombo Somaliland: the electoral law for upcoming parliamentary elections imperils inclusive representation Article The repeated postponements of elections have at times caused political tensions and uncertainty. This has undermined Somaliland’s democratization process, weakened public confidence in democracy, stalled institution building and reforms, and damaged the country's relationship with the international community.
Theme: Gender Justice The Gender Component contributes to the transformation of gender relations in Kenya and the region in order to realize human rights for all members of society. Our main focus areas enhance women’s effective political participation in Kenya, challenge patriarchy and democratic rollback in the region from a feminist perspective, and amplify gender and sexual minority rights through regional networking, learning processes, capacity building, awareness creation, research and documentation of experiences of women leaders. The programme also builds knowledge and facilitates discourse on gender diversity.
Offline Wounds: A Sauti Session Dialogue on Confronting Digital Violence Article hbs recently partnered with Sauti Sessions and Baraza Media Lab to spotlight the growing crisis of Technologically Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) in Kenya. Though it happens online, its impacts are deeply offline, fueling harm, trauma, and in some cases escalating to femicide. As the world marks the 2025 16 Days of Activism under the theme “UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls,” the dialogue underscored the urgent need for stronger protections and safer digital spaces for women and girls.
Reshaping Narratives : Media Engagement Strategies for LGBTIQ+ Persons in Kenya Article The Heinrich Böll Foundation (hbs) Nairobi, in partnership with the Initiative for Equality and Non-Discrimination (INEND), has released a new publication titled Reshaping Narratives: Media Engagement Strategies for LGBTIQ+ Persons in Kenya. The report examines how the Kenyan media portrays sexual and gender minorities and explores practical strategies for fostering more inclusive, accurate, and ethical reporting. By combining community insights, journalist perspectives, and media analysis, the study highlights both the progress made and the ongoing challenges in ensuring fair representation, dignity, and equality for LGBTIQ+ persons in Kenya.
Theme: Environment The Environment component operates projects and activities in the East and Horn of Africa under the umbrella of three priority areas; Climate change, Food Security, Extractive Industries. Renewable energy ideas and strategies are also considered.
What Kenya Can Learn from Germany’s Energy Shift. Article As the climate crisis intensifies, how we produce and consume energy is under growing scrutiny. The energy sector contributes over 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with electricity and heat generation as the largest culprits. According to International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), renewable electrification of end-use sectors could mitigate at least 20% of emissions by 2050 Fredrick Njau
Plastic Pollution Is a Gender Issue, the Global Treaty Must Say So Article As world leaders meet in Geneva, Switzerland, for the final round of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC-5.2) one truth must not be overlooked: Plastic pollution is also a gender issue. Faiba Kombo
MISSING VOICES ANNUAL REPORT 2024: ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES INCREASED BY 450% IN 2024 Press Release There are five major highlights of this year’s 2024 Missing Voices Report Enforced disappearances by police up by nearly five times from 2023 June and July were the deadliest months, same in 2023 Nairobi was the deadliest county for EJKs followed by Kiambu and Migori Less than 2% of police related EJKs are in court Most victims of enforced disappearances were neither prosecuted nor allowed to demonstrate their innocence in court of law. They have not received justice or compensation by the time of the report.
POLICE IMPUNITY: WHAT THE MARAGA TASKFORCE SAID The Maraga Task Force submitted its report to President William Ruto in November 2023. The task force was established to identify the legal, policy, administrative, institutional, and operational challenges hindering effective service delivery by the National Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service, and the National Youth Service. This article from the Missing Voices Report 2023 provides detailed insights into the outcomes of the Maraga report. Missing Voices
Missing voices Annual Report 2023 | End Police Impunity Press Release On Wednesday, April 24th, 2024, the Missing Voices Coalition launched its 2023 Annual Report focused on the theme "End Police Impunity" at the Heinrich Boell Foundation, Nairobi Office. Faiba Kombo
Somaliland: the electoral law for upcoming parliamentary elections imperils inclusive representation Article The repeated postponements of elections have at times caused political tensions and uncertainty. This has undermined Somaliland’s democratization process, weakened public confidence in democracy, stalled institution building and reforms, and damaged the country's relationship with the international community.
