HOMA BAY, Kenya — Homa Bay County has unveiled a new digital platform, the Dignity App, designed to enable residents to report incidents of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in real time. Launched at Kadongo Trading Centre in Kabondo Kasipul constituency, the app aims to address the county’s persistent challenges of physical and sexual violence, teenage pregnancies, and HIV infections. During the launch, community leaders, academics, and project managers highlighted that the platform allows survivors and witnesses to report cases safely and anonymously, while also linking them to critical health and support services.
The initiative is spearheaded by a consortium of four organizations — the Centre for Women Empowerment in Technology (CWE-TECH), Cooperation Arena for Sustainable Development in Africa (CASDA), Power for the People Africa Trust (PFP), and Sikhona Rescue Centre — who jointly invested over Sh300,000 for its development and pilot testing. The app combines educational resources with reporting tools, providing users with information on sexual and reproductive health, emergency assistance, and community awareness programs. Project leaders noted that many GBV cases in Homa Bay go unreported, enabling perpetrators to act with impunity, and emphasized that the app will empower communities to break this cycle.
Local officials and stakeholders have welcomed the digital innovation, noting its potential to reduce teenage pregnancies, curb HIV transmission, and improve access to justice for survivors. Michael Ochola, Homa Bay GBV activities coordinator, described the initiative as a strategic intervention against the triple threat of GBV, teen pregnancy, and HIV. Experts believe that, if widely adopted, the app could significantly strengthen law enforcement responses, promote girls’ education, and encourage community participation in curbing violence. Looking ahead, consortium members plan to expand awareness campaigns and integrate additional support features, ensuring that Homa Bay residents have continuous access to vital services and protection.