It started with a knock on the door. A trusted friend, a bottle of liquor, and a warm evening catch-up. It ended with a "view once" WhatsApp video that shattered Sylvia’s life. The clip showed her naked, incapacitated, and violated. The friend was now a blackmailer, demanding money to keep her dignity private.

Sylvia’s story is not unique. It is the terrifying face of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV), a crime that is exploding across Kenya while the law struggles to catch up. From revenge porn to deepfakes, smartphones have become weapons in the hands of abusers who use intimacy as leverage to destroy women’s lives.

The Lawless Digital Wild West

The most chilling aspect of this crisis is the impunity. When Sylvia went to the police, she hit a dead end. "The case never went to court. The suspect was never charged," she recounts. Experts warn that Kenya’s legal framework is woefully inadequate. While physical assault is clearly defined, "online abuse" falls into a gray area often dismissed by authorities.

A recent report presented to President Ruto explicitly noted that while physical violence gets attention, "online abuse is often unidentified or overlooked." Perpetrators know this. They know that a forwarded image can do more damage than a fist, and yet leave no bruises for a police doctor to examine.

• The Frontline: At a recent Digital Stewards Conference in Nairobi, survivors like "Hellen," a sex worker, shared horror stories of clients installing hidden cameras. "I have lost friends who met clients online and were found strangled," she said. The link between digital stalking and physical femicide is undeniable.
• The Police Response: Too often, victims are met with victim-blaming at the station. "You sent the photos yourself," is a common refrain from officers ill-equipped to handle digital crimes.

Silence is Compliance

The silence is deafening. Survivors are scared to speak out, knowing that the internet never forgets. But advocates like Sharon Kechula are fighting back, demanding that TFGBV be anchored in law. "Without clear legal recognition, silence persists," she warns.

For women like Sylvia, justice remains a mirage. But her courage in speaking out is the first crack in the wall of impunity. The smartphone should be a tool of connection, not a cage of fear. It is time for the law to log in.