The Kenya Demographic Health Survey (KDHS) 2022 states that physical violence will occur if a
current or former intimate partner or spouse did the following: pushes you, shakes you, or
throws something at you; slaps you; twists your arm or pulls your hair; punches you with
his/her fist or with something that could hurt you; kicks you, drags you, or beats you up; tries to
choke you or burn you on purpose; or attacks you with a knife, gun, or other weapon.
Gender-based violence refers to violence directed against a woman because she is a woman or
violence that affects women disproportionately. It includes acts that inflict physical, mental or
sexual harm or suffering, threats of such acts, coercion, and other deprivations of liberty.
Violence against women refers to any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to
result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such
acts, coercion, or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life.
Intimate partner violence refers to behaviour by a current or former intimate partner that
causes physical, sexual or psychological harm, including physical aggression, sexual coercion,
psychological abuse and controlling behaviours.
According to KDHS 2022, the experience of violence among women increases with age; 20% of
women aged 15–19 have experienced physical violence since age 15, as compared with 42% of
women aged 45–49.
Marital status is linked to experiences of violence among women. Women who have ever been
married are much more likely to have experienced violence since age 15 than those who have
never been married (41% versus 20%). By county, the percentage of women who have
experienced physical violence since age 15 is highest in Bungoma (62%) and lowest in Mandera
(9%). 34% of women and 27% of men in Kenya have experienced physical violence since the age
of 15 years.
The most commonly reported perpetrator of physical violence among women who have ever
been married or ever had an intimate partner was their current husband or intimate partner
(54%), followed by a former husband/intimate partner (34%). The most common perpetrators
of physical violence among men who have ever been married or ever had an intimate partner
were teachers (28%), followed by current wives/intimate partners (20%) and former
wives/intimate partners (19%). 23% of men who have ever been married or had an intimate
partner experienced physical violence at the hands of other persons.
Teachers (33%) and mothers/stepmothers (25%) were the most common perpetrators of
physical violence against women who have never been married or never had an intimate
partner. Teachers (46%) and schoolmates/classmates (22%) were the most common
perpetrators of physical violence against men who have never been married or had an intimate
partner.
KDHS clarifies that these results are as a result of the sampled population comprising mainly
adolescents in high school. These are more likely to have experienced physical violence in
school as part of corporal punishment.
Advice to youth: If assaulted or harmed, talk to a parent or trusted adult and go to the nearest
hospital or health facility for a medical exam and treatment. A doctor should confirm the
assault. Take the medical report to the police station and collect a P3 form. If severely hurt, the
police should be asked to visit the health facility with a P3 form to record the crime. Have a P3
form filled and take it to the doctor to record the assault. (If upcountry, go to the public
hospital). Take back the P3 form to the police station for the arrest of the perpetrator (and keep
a copy of the form for yourself if possible). When requested, identify the accused for arrest.
Attend court when the accused is charged.
There is no shame in being a victim of physical abuse. Speak up.