One of the key social issues faced in making transport safe is tackling gender violence. In the wake of the Gen Z protests, Kenya is reeling from the discovery of several female bodies from a dumpsite in one of the slum areas of Nairobi. A self confessed serial killer has been arrested and presented by the police, much to the suspicious doubt of the public about the speed & authenticity of this arrest.

Sexual & gender based violence (SGBV) is any act perpetrated against a person’s will and is based on gender norms & unequal power relationships. The violence can either be physical, economic, sexual, emotional & technology assisted. The reason the transport sector has very little proportion of women working in it include challenges like demanding family roles, less physical strength, lower pay level, lower skill level, limited hygiene amenities & unfavorable public perception. Women motorists are also more likely to be carjacked or robbed than men, and women passengers are constantly exposed catcalls, groping & invasion of personal space.

Research shows that ender stereotypes are the root cause of SGBV. The contributors of GBV include an individual perpetrator being previously exposed to abuse, the victim having a relationship with the perpetrator, communities with low socio-economic status, and societies that accept violence as a way of resolving conflict. While women are the most affected by SGBV, men particularly taxi drivers and boda boda riders are also falling victim to the same from ‘liberated women’.

The fine line that defines GBV from lack of it is basically consent, with the acronym FRIES which means the consent to any action has to be Freely given, is Reversible, is Informed, is Enthusiastic & is Specific. The only challenge with SGBV in Africa is that while No means No, Yes is often not verbal. Also many men believe that there no such thing as rape in marriage. COVAW KENYA has been at the centre of the fight against all forms of gender violence.

To safeguard against SGBV in public transport, organizations involved in transport provision and regulation must have a clear policy on SGBV. Importantly, there needs to be simple channels such as toll free lines, anonymous reporting, social media handles & vocal champions for members of the public to report any SGBV complaints. BasiGo & Advanced Mobility Africa carried out an upskilling program for women in the PSV sector, our common belief is that when mobility works for women, it will work for everyone else.