FEMICIDE: UN Raises Concerns About Toxic Masculinity Among Kenyan Men
To combat gender-based violence, the United Nations Women Kenya has encouraged Kenyan men to embrace positive masculinity and avoid toxic behavior.
According to the women leaders, who acknowledged legislative efforts to reduce gender-based violence, Kenyan men must do more, including rejecting traditional patriarchal attitudes that foster violence.
“Despite legislative efforts, deeply rooted patriarchal norms and unequal power structures continue to perpetuate violence, discrimination, and systemic gender inequalities,” the statement by UN Women, Kenya branch, read in part.
“GBV continues to manifest in many forms, including domestic violence, sexual harassment, and economic disempowerment, limiting the full participation of women and girls in society.”
Happening today: 🎯Regional Workshop on Positive Masculinity & the Fight Against #GBV
— UN Women Kenya (@unwomenkenya) April 22, 2025
We are working with girls, young women, youth leaders, and key stakeholders to promote positive masculinity, build safer communities, and advance equal leadership for all.
Change starts here📍 pic.twitter.com/jOSivvYyOi
“Positive masculinity is a powerful tool for gender justice—it asks men to reject harmful norms, embrace empathy, respect, and partnership. It encourages men to be allies and build healthier relationships.” @AntoniaSodonon, @unwomenkenya 🇰🇪 Country Representative https://t.co/bRVsSGY80X pic.twitter.com/RG2vVIswS1
— UN Women Kenya (@unwomenkenya) April 22, 2025
Some of the deeply ingrained patriarchal standards identified by female leaders include situations in which males are supposed to be dominating and women to be subservient, perpetuating power imbalances that can escalate to violence.
Other norms addressed include women’s financial dependence on men, cultural practices like female genital mutilation (FGM), early marriages, and extreme incidents of communities backing women who are beaten for ‘discipline’.
According to UN Women, all of these factors contribute significantly to Kenyan men’s increased rates of GBV in the country.
📣We cannot achieve #genderequality without men & boys. Positive masculinity empowers them to reject toxic norms & take an active role in ending #GBV. A more equal & peaceful future depends on it.🔔
— UN Women Kenya (@unwomenkenya) April 22, 2025
When men become allies, we build safer homes, communities & a more just society. https://t.co/8RX6JePFkg pic.twitter.com/PI9CoW4YGI
UN Women is now urging men and boys to reject damaging stereotypes that associate male with dominance, aggressiveness, and control.
Instead, they advocate for positive masculinity, which emphasizes empathy, accountability, respect, and teamwork.
READ MORE:
- 3 Suspected Abductors Arrested, Detained In Murang’a
- Gov’t To Close Down Kameme, 23 Stations For Violating New Regulations
- Cheluget Family Confirms Being In Talks With Gov’t Over Disputed Land
- ‘I am Not A UDA Project!’ – MP Salasya Says
- Sakaja’s Nairobi County Evicts Woodley Tenants Over Unpaid Arrears
“Positive masculinity is a powerful tool in our collective journey towards gender justice. Positive masculinity encourages men to become allies to foster healthier relationships,” said Ms Antonia N’gabala Sodonon, the Representative for UN Women in Kenya.
UN Women, in collaboration with the Kenyan government, youth advocates, and gender experts, has agreed that the Regional Forum on Positive Masculinity and the Fight Against GBV will inform the ratification and implementation of the African Union (AU) Convention on Ending Violence against Women and Girls (EVAWG) to promote positive masculinity.
To ensure that this fresh viewpoint is adopted, UN Women, the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action, and other Gender, Equality, and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) stakeholders collaborated on the initial draft of the National Male Engagement and Inclusion Strategy.
The decision comes as incidences of femicide in Kenya are on the rise.
FEMICIDE: UN Raises Concerns About Toxic Masculinity Among Kenyan Men
