Inside the Nairobi Serena Hotel on a Tuesday in early December, the room was filled with more than just researchers and policymakers. It was filled with three years of hard truths. Outside, the world was marking the “16 Days of Activism” against gender-based violence. Inside, the Advancing Gender Equality in Media and Civil Society (AGECS) project was wrapping up its work, the message from its final symposium was clear: we have been looking at the problem from the wrong angle.
The project, led by the Aga Khan University’s Graduate School of Media and Communications (GSMC), didn’t just write reports, it looked for the “shadow pandemic” hiding in plain sight. As Hon. Harriette Chiggai, the President’s Advisor on Women’s Rights, stood to speak, she called the media the “architects of narrative.” But she also issued a sharp warning: a story that only mourns the victim without questioning the perpetrator isn’t just incomplete it’s a failure of justice.
The Predator in the Locker Room
One of the most unsettling parts of the project’s work was its look at the world of sports. We often talk about sports as a way for girls to find their voice and power, but for many in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, the locker room is a place of deep vulnerability.
The research, “Sexual and gender-based violence against women in sports: prevalence, patterns and responses,” found that abuse is not coming from strangers. The numbers are a punch to the gut: 55% of the perpetrators are coaches, team officials, and teammates. These are the people meant to be mentors.
The study shows that many use their power to exploit athletes who are already struggling with poverty or a lack of basic gear. When a coach holds the power over a scholarship or a spot on the national team, “consent” is barely a factor. The research highlights a “boys’ club” mentality that protects coaches and silences athletes, making abuse feel normal rather than criminal.
The Media’s “Sympathy Gap”
AGECS research shows a massive gap in how these stories reach the public. In the reports, “Media framing of sexual and gender-based violence and femicide: An analysis” and the accompanying Policy Brief, researchers found a strange paradox. While 90% of news stories are sympathetic to the victims, they almost never focus on the men who committed the crimes. In fact, perpetrators only show up as central characters in about 3% to 6% of news coverage.
By focusing only on the tragedy and ignoring the actions of the man involved, the media treats violence as a natural disaster, something sad that just “happens.” This kind of reporting lets the system off the hook. We learn the victim’s name and her history, but the man who attacked her remains a ghost in the story.
Real Work on the Ground
The AGECS project, a partnership between GSMC-AKU, the Aga Khan Foundation, and Global Affairs Canada, spent the last three years trying to change these habits. They didn’t just stay in conference rooms; they went directly into newsrooms across the region.
They helped set up “Gender Desks” at stations like Voice of Toro in Uganda and Afya Radio in Tanzania. These aren’t just titles; they are hubs for real change. At Afya Radio, the “Sitanyamaza” (I will not be silent) program has become a space for the community to finally speak out.
Over the project’s lifespan:
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216 trainers were certified to teach gender-sensitive reporting.
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219 media professionals were trained across six cities.
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80 fellowships were given to journalists and leaders to make sure women have a seat at the table where editorial decisions are made.
A Roadmap for Change
As the symposium ended, the AGECS team laid out a seven-point plan to make sure this work doesn’t stop just because the project is ending:
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Standardize Gender Desks: Every newsroom needs a formal way to handle gender issues and protect its staff.
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Teach it Early: Gender-sensitive reporting should be part of the core classes for every journalism student.
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Name the Perpetrator: Editors need to move away from “sad stories” and start tracking court cases to see if justice is actually served.
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Safeguard Athletes: Sports federations must have “Safe Sport” policies and dedicated officers to protect women from predatory coaching.
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Promote Women to Leadership: We need more women in the boardrooms where the “hard news” is decided.
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Create a Regional Consortium: A network of media, lawyers, and activists to share data and legal support.
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Keep Digging: We need to keep researching new threats, like online violence and how digital platforms might be making gender bias worse.
“Research Changes Nothing Unless People Do”
Hon. Harriette Chiggai’s closing remarks served as a reality check for everyone in the room. She reminded the audience that gender inequality isn’t just a “social issue” it is an economic burden and a justice crisis.
“Transformation is not measured by reports written,” she said. “It is measured by the women who feel safer, the girls who stay in school, the survivors who find justice, and the communities that choose equality over silence.”
The AGECS project has provided the evidence and the blueprints. Now, it’s up to the editors, the coaches, and the policymakers to decide if they are actually going to build a safer house for the women of East Africa. The evidence is out there; the excuse of “not knowing” is gone. Now, the work must begin.
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