Nairobi records nearly 9,500 child GBV cases in 2025

At least 26 children in Nairobi County were being violated every day in the year 2025 based on health data from public health facilities across the county.

Statistics from Nairobi County hospitals show that 9,434 children were subjected to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) across all 17 sub-counties in Nairobi.

Among the total cases reported, 1,552 involved children under nine years old, while teenage girls aged 10 to 17 were the most affected group, making up the majority of child survivors.

Overall, girls accounted for 8,692 of the recorded cases, while boys numbered 742, highlighting a significant gender gap in reported child abuse

These figures reflect only cases that reached hospitals, raising concerns that the actual level of abuse against children may be much higher.

Sub-county data indicate that Dagoretti North had the highest number of GBV cases involving children under nine, recording 1225, followed by Embakasi Central and Kamukunji sub-counties with 901 and 602 cases, respectively.

In contrast, Westlands and Embakasi West reported no cases involving children under nine. This pattern raises questions about whether the lack of data indicates effective prevention measures or gaps in reporting.

However, these figures show a decline from 10,684 child GBV cases recorded in hospitals in 2024. Among those cases, 2,170 involved children under nine, while teenage girls aged 10 to 17 formed the largest age group, accounting for 7,948 cases.

Child GBV cases are part of the broader issue of sexual and gender-based violence in Nairobi County. In total, 17,854 women and 2,100 men reported SGBV at Nairobi health facilities in 2025.

Access to timely medical care remains limited, as less than half of survivors reported within the 72-hour window necessary for emergency treatment and forensic evidence collection.

Health records show that 8,558 women and 1,292 men sought treatment within this timeframe, with experts warning that delays affect both health outcomes and the chances of successful prosecution.

The data also reveals increased vulnerability among people with disabilities. A total of 3,128 survivors reported having disabilities, including both children and adults.

Among adults, intimate partner violence (IPV) was the most common form of abuse, with 6,938 women and 932 men reporting violations by intimate partners, indicating that violence often occurs in homes rather than public spaces.

Despite being illegal, female genital mutilation (FGM) was also reported in Nairobi in 2025, with 56 cases recorded at health facilities.

In response to the rise in sexual and gender-based violence cases, the Nairobi County Government enacted the Nairobi City County Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Prevention, Response and Control Act, 2021. This act aims to improve prevention, protection, and survivor support.

The Act commits the county to public awareness campaigns on the causes and effects of GBV, prohibition of harmful cultural practices, protection of survivors’ confidentiality, and provision of essential services, including medical care, psychosocial support, and legal assistance.

The law requires a coordinated, multi-agency response, bringing together health services, law enforcement, social services, legal aid providers, and community groups. It also calls for the establishment of integrated  GBV service centers with clear referral pathways to hospitals, police, and counseling services.

To enhance oversight, the Act forms a County Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Advisory Committee, with representatives from government departments, civil society, faith-based organizations, youth, and persons with disabilities.

Regarding survivor protection, the Act requires the county to ensure free access to essential post-violence healthcare.

This includes collaboration with national agencies to create a county forensic laboratory, mandates at least one safe house in every sub-county, offering temporary shelter, medical care, psychosocial support, and pathways to justice.

The law also requires the county to allocate sustained budgets for GBV prevention and response, including incorporating GBV education in schools, workplaces, and health services, as well as supporting survivors in their reintegration into society.