NAIROBI, Kenya — The Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services has condemned a growing trend on social media that portrays gender-based violence (GBV) as entertainment, warning that creators who produce or share such content risk facing legal consequences.
In a statement issued through the State Department for Gender Affairs and Affirmative Action, the ministry said it was deeply concerned by videos circulating online that stage domestic abuse and sexual harassment as pranks or scripted skits, arguing that the trend trivialises serious crimes and undermines national efforts to protect survivors.
According to the ministry, one emerging pattern involves fabricated intimate partner violence scenarios in which women are depicted as victims of spousal abuse who later “forgive” their abusers after receiving gifts or money.
Another troubling trend features staged sexual harassment clips—often shared on platforms such as TikTok—showing young men accosting and touching women in public spaces for laughs and online engagement.
The ministry warned that such portrayals distort public understanding of GBV and promote harmful narratives that normalise abuse.
“These crimes are not entertainment. Presenting them as humorous or trendy, or suggesting that forgiveness can be bought, dangerously erodes empathy for survivors and reverses hard-won gains in the fight against GBV,” the statement said.
#STATEMENT CONDEMNATION OF CONTENT NORMALIZING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
The department also raised alarm over the involvement of children in some of the skits, noting that coaching minors to comment on or act out abusive scenarios amounts to child abuse and could expose them to long-term psychological harm.
Beyond the social impact, the ministry cautioned that the surge in fabricated content risks creating a “cry wolf” effect—making it harder for authorities and the public to identify genuine cases that require urgent intervention, potentially delaying help for real victims.
Principal Secretary Anne Wang’ombe said the government has invested significant resources in a multi-agency strategy to eliminate all forms of GBV, including technology-facilitated violence, and warned that these efforts will not be allowed to be undermined.
She directed creators to immediately take down content that trivialises GBV and urged social media users to stop sharing such material, noting that these actions are punishable under Kenyan law.
“Be advised that these actions are not only morally wrong but constitute punishable offences. Relevant government authorities are now on alert and will take decisive action against future violations,” Wang’ombe said.
She called on Kenyans to report harmful content and work together to create a digital environment that respects human dignity, protects survivors and promotes genuine gender equality, stressing that GBV must never be treated as entertainment.
