Kenya moves to strengthen protection against tech-facilitated sexual violence

While in her second year at the Technical University of Mombasa, Queentah Wambulwa recalls an incident that occurred that would drastically change the course of her life. She says that morning in 2018, she woke up to thousands of Facebook notifications.

Initially, she could not grasp what was wrong. However, it soon became clear to her that someone had shared explicit photos and videos of her in village Facebook and WhatsApp groups. These were images she had privately sent to her ex-boyfriend during their long-distance relationship, which had started in 2016.

“This realisation was completely crushing. I was filled with immense shame and sorrow for disappointing both myself and those around me. The intense feelings of guilt, anxiety, and concern consumed me as the pictures circulated on Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, and local blogs. I felt lost and unsure of where to seek help and even considered ending my life to escape the suffering,” Queentah tells the Nation.

Read: Is your child safe online? Kenya's alarming AI protection gap

Members of the Facebook and WhatsApp groups were friends, family, and neighbours from her hometown, hence it did not take much time for her parents to receive the photos and videos, she recalls. This experience pushed her into deep depression. To cope, she resorted to alcohol and drugs. And the situation deteriorated further, eventually resulting in her admission to Kenyatta National Hospital for psychiatric care.

“To be honest, I need to attribute my recovery to divine intervention. With the assistance of counsellors, I was able to heal and recover from the traumatic experience. With the support of counsellors, I was able to navigate the traumatic experience,” she adds.

Today, Quinter is one of the leading Kenyan psychologists, author, and mental health advocate. She is the founder and CEO of the Girls for Girls Mental Health Foundation. However, despite the atrocities that were committed against her, she did not get justice, and the perpetrator continues to walk free, despite his crime.

But now Quinter, a survivor of technology-facilitated sexual violence, could benefit from the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2026, if it becomes law. The National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) has adopted the Bill, which seeks to criminalise digital and emerging forms of sexual exploitation, prohibit informal out-of-court settlements, and strengthen survivor-centred protections.