KCA University unveils GBV prevention handbook

KCA University has released a handbook on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) to address the widespread problem affecting Kenyan universities, particularly female students. 

This initiative, developed in collaboration with the University of Nottingham and funded by the British Council, presents the Handbook for Gender-Based Violence Prevention in Kenyan Higher Education Institutions. 

Prof. Judy Muthuri from the University of Nottingham and Dr. Zippy Okoth from KCA University serve as co-principal investigators.

The handbook is a comprehensive guide, providing strategies for both individual and institutional interventions.

The handbook emphasizes that GBV is a global issue, with one in every three women experiencing some form of violence in their lifetime. 

In Kenya, the situation is particularly alarming, with 56% of women and 36% of girls reporting GBV incidents by 2022. The Co-Principal Investigators are Prof. Judy Muthuri University of Nottingham and Dr. Zippy Okoth KCA University

Universities, which are often regarded as safe spaces, have become hotbeds of violence, with female students subjected to sexual harassment, physical abuse, and instances of "sexually transmitted degrees," in which sexual favors are traded for academic grades. 

These experiences severely impact victims' physical and mental health, academic performance, and long-term well-being, often leading to stigma, isolation, and insufficient institutional support.

To combat GBV, the handbook proposes a multi-faceted approach emphasizing individual awareness and institutional responsibility.

It encourages students to become familiar with their university's GBV policies, as well as their right to report incidents confidentially.

Access to mental health support and gender sensitization programs is highlighted as essential for survivors and those at risk.

Universities are encouraged to set up clear, accessible reporting channels, such as online forms, hotlines, and designated personnel. Workshops on consent, bystander intervention, and respectful behavior can empower students to recognize and prevent GBV.

Peer-led groups can also play a crucial role in challenging stigma, supporting survivors, and promoting gender equality. Collaborations with organizations like FIDA Kenya can provide survivors with free legal assistance.

On an institutional level, the handbook encourages the development and implementation of strict anti-GBV policies, with leadership playing an active role in these efforts.

Sensitization programs can challenge harmful gender norms while also cultivating a culture of respect and accountability.

Improvements to campus lighting, increased security patrols, and surveillance in high-risk areas can all help to improve safety.

It is also critical to provide easily accessible counseling, medical care, and survivor support groups. Faculty and staff should receive training to identify and respond to GBV, while students should undergo mandatory orientation on GBV prevention.

A unique feature of the handbook is its use of film to raise awareness.

The short fictional film Comrade Calls, produced as part of this project, was shown to over 600 students at six Kenyan universities.

Available on YouTube, the film uses storytelling to humanize GBV issues, spark empathy, and inspire conversations on violence prevention.

The handbook emphasizes that preventing GBV requires collective effort from students, faculty, administrators, and external stakeholders. Universities must foster a culture of zero tolerance for violence, ensuring survivors receive support and perpetrators are held accountable.

As Bina Maseno, Executive Director of Badili Africa, notes in the handbook’s foreword, university campuses should be spaces of learning, growth, and opportunity, free from fear, harassment, or harm.