For survivors of gender-based violence in Nairobi’s informal settlements, reporting abuse can be the first—and often one of the most difficult—steps towards finding safety and justice.
That challenge is now being addressed in Mukuru Kwa Reuben following the launch of a dedicated Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Office at Mukuru Kwa Reuben Police Station, through a partnership between CFK Africa and the police.
The new office is designed to provide survivors, particularly women and children, with a safer and more accessible avenue to report abuse, seek assistance and access appropriate support.
The initiative comes amid concerns over gender-based violence in informal settlements, where vulnerable residents can face multiple barriers to reporting and pursuing cases of abuse.
Representing the Officer Commanding Station, Mr. Wako, the Director of Gender at the police station said the Mukuru facility is the second GBV office established through the initiative, following the one in Kibera.
The expansion reflects efforts to take GBV response services closer to communities and strengthen the mechanisms available to survivors.
For CFK Africa, the partnership is not only about establishing a physical office but also about strengthening the link between communities, survivors and law enforcement.
The organization says the facility will support efforts to ensure that cases of abuse are reported, investigated and handled appropriately, while creating greater awareness among residents about gender-based violence and child protection.
Particular attention will be placed on children and other vulnerable members of the Mukuru Kwa Reuben community, who may be at heightened risk of violence, exploitation and abuse.
The partnership also seeks to encourage survivors to speak out and seek help rather than suffer abuse in silence.
Community awareness and survivor empowerment will form an important part of the initiative, with CFK Africa emphasizing the need for residents to understand where and how they can seek assistance when faced with abuse.
The launch of the Mukuru Kwa Reuben GBV Office therefore marks another step in efforts to build safer informal settlements—where survivors can report abuse with greater confidence, children are better protected and perpetrators can be held accountable.
With the Kibera office already established and Mukuru Kwa Reuben becoming the second location, the initiative signals a broader push to strengthen community-based responses to gender-based violence across Nairobi’s informal settlements.
