kenya Archives

Financial Pandemic: As living costs spiral in Kenya, a mother sacrifices to spare family from ‘dire times’

With food prices soaring to over 12% over the past year, the economic repercussions of the pandemic are being heavily felt across Kenya. Women are particularly vulnerable.

by Agatha Gichana

Co-published with the Nation

COVID-19 has stopped everything except cancer — the cells are still growing

Globally, millions of women have missed breast cancer screening appointments because of paused services during the height of the pandemic in March and April. This means thousands of cancer cases could lie undetected.

by Louise Donovan

This piece was published in partnership between Kenya’s the Nation, and The Fuller Project.

After Escaping Abuse in the Middle East, Domestic Workers’ Woes Are Far From Over in this Pandemic

The pandemic and resulting economic crises have led tens of thousands of migrant workers around the world to return to their home countries

by Louise Donovan & Moraa Obiria

This article was published in partnership with The Telegraph and Kenya’s Daily Nation.

In Wake of Beirut’s Devastating Blast, Stranded Kenyan Domestic Workers Demand Repatriation

An estimated 30 women - at least three with children - took to the streets to protest. They are sleeping outside the Kenyan consular on mattresses with little food or water.

by Louise Donovan

This article was published in partnership with Kenya’s Daily Nation.

Seeking a decent life for domestic workers

As the head of the National Domestic Workers Council of Kudheiha, a trade union that advocates for Kenyan workers’ rights, she is the first point of contact for women’s pleas across the country and beyond.

by Louise Donovan

This article was originally published in The Daily Nation.

Sex Workers’ Dilemma amid Covid-19

At 6:30pm every evening, Emelda Ngieno’s alarm clock buzzes her out of a deep sleep. As the sun sets, she gets up, throws on tonight’s chosen outfit and heads to her designated location: Pipeline, a…

by Angela Oketch & Louise Donovan

This article was originally published in The Daily Nation.

Kenya’s Labor Market Wasn’t Made for a Pandemic

NAIROBI—For the past week, every morning, Akonya Shimeseru wakes up in her single-room home that she shares with her two children in Ongata Rongai, a town on the outskirts of Nairobi.

by Louise Donovan and April Zhu

This article was originally published in Foreign Policy.

Meet Beauty Therapist Saving Female Heroin Addicts

Housed in the Reachout Centre Trust, which helps Mombasa residents fight drug addiction, it opened last year with a view to attracting more female users to its services that include HIV testing, counselling, methadone treatment…

by Louise Donovan

This article was originally published in The Daily Nation.

The Movement Tackling Sexual Harassment at Kenya’s Universities

Diana perched on a brown bench in one of Nairobi University's large lecture theatres, twisting her fingers into pretzel-like shapes. She scanned the room. To her left, students waited eagerly to hear her story. To…

by Louise Donovan

This article was published in partnership with The Nation and Al Jazeera.

Gender Activists in a March Dubbed Usawa Demand Action Against GBV, Youth Empowerment, Women Land Rights

The march dubbed Usawa kicked-off at Uhuru Park’s freedom corner to President’s Uhuru Kenyatta’s office at Harambee House, where they delivered a petition on gender equality.

by Louise Donovan

This article was originally published in The Daily Nation.

One-Fifth of Women Don’t Know if Abortion Is Illegal in Kenya, New Study Shows

A new study by Marie Stopes Kenya showed that 20.7 per cent of women seeking abortion services in Nairobi “do not know” whether the process is illegal.

by Louise Donovan

This article was originally published in The Daily Nation.

Meet University Student ‘Counting Dead Women’ Around Kenya

When she is not at university, Audrey Mugeni is updating her spreadsheet. Every month, she adds more names. In one column, a grim question needs answering: ‘What killed this woman?’

by Louise Donovan

This article was originally published in The Daily Nation.

‘Dumped Babies Are Just the Tip of the Iceberg’: The Deadly Consequences of Curbing Reproductive Rights

Abortions are illegal in Kenya. Every day, 320 women are hospitalised – and seven die – as a result of dangerous ‘quack’ abortions in Kenya.

by Louise Donovan & Nasibo Kabale

This article was published in partnership with The Nation and The Telegraph.

‘I Need the Money But I Feel Guilt.’ How a Drought-Resistant Crop Turned Women in Kenya into Reluctant Drug Lords

Khat is one of the most popular — and lucrative — drugs in the region, bringing in $400,000 a day in Kenya alone for its primarily women sellers.

by Jillian Keenan & Nasibo Kabale

This article was originally published in TIME Magazine.

Doubts Still Linger on Kenyans’ Safety in Middle East

Stories of Kenyan women migrant workers pleading for help led the Kenya government to shut down thousands of unregulated recruiting agencies.

by Jillian Keenan & Njeri Rugene

This article was originally published in The Daily Nation.

From Prison To Periods: Meet The Men Fighting Menstruation Taboos

One way to change cultural attitudes towards menstruation? Bring bring men into the conversation, experts say.

by Louise Donocan, Felista Wangari, Hannah O'Neill

This article was originally published in Elle.

Teaching boys that ‘real men’ would stop rape

Isaac, a 15-year-old boy, watched as a group of men grabbed a young girl. It was a bustling new year’s eve in Kibera, Kenya’s largest slum, and he knew she was in trouble. He also…

by Louise Donovan, Hannah O'Neil and Felista Wangari

This article was originally published in BBC.

This Is How Trump’s Abortion Policy Will Curb Life-Saving Health Care

"Many are going to die," warned one impoverished 17-year-old Kenyan woman who nearly lost her life to a back-alley abortion.

by Sophia Jones and Neha Wadekar

This article was originally published in ELLE.

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