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The government has cautioned social media content creators against producing videos that downplay, glorify or make light of gender-based violence (GBV).
In a statement, the Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services said the growing trend poses a serious risk to ongoing national efforts to prevent and address abuse.
The State Department for Gender Affairs and Affirmative Action said it has observed a surge in online content portraying GBV as entertainment.
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Principal Secretary Anne Wang’ombe said the ministry is deeply troubled by videos circulating on platforms such as TikTok that normalise violence, warning that such material undermines the seriousness of GBV.
She highlighted two main types of content raising concern. The first involves scripted skits that depict fake cases of intimate partner violence, where women appear with digitally altered injuries and portray scenarios in which abusive partners are easily forgiven after offering money or gifts.
The ministry said this misrepresents the reality of GBV and promotes the dangerous notion that abuse can be excused or bargained away.
Wang’ombe also expressed alarm over the involvement of children in these videos, saying coaching minors to participate amounts to child abuse and could cause lasting psychological harm.
The second category involves staged incidents of sexual harassment, where young men film themselves touching or harassing women in public spaces and present the clips as pranks. The ministry said such acts constitute sexual assault and warned that packaging them as comedy normalises criminal behaviour.
“This type of content is unacceptable and reverses years of progress made in the fight against GBV by turning serious violations into jokes,” the statement said.
The PS further warned that fabricated GBV content could create a “cry wolf” effect, making it harder for authorities to identify genuine cases and respond swiftly to real victims.
The government noted that it has made significant investments in addressing all forms of abuse, including technology-enabled GBV, which continues to rise. It warned that online content will not be allowed to undermine gains achieved through national and multi-agency initiatives.
The ministry ordered the immediate removal of such videos and directed creators to stop producing or sharing content that mocks or minimises GBV. It also reminded the public that the actions shown in the videos are offences under Kenyan law, adding that enforcement agencies are on high alert.
Wang’ombe urged Kenyans to report harmful content and to help promote a digital space that respects dignity, safety and gender equality, stressing that the issue is a matter of national concern.
