Grades for flesh: Inside the toxic relationships trapping Kenya's university women

A couple talking in a bar. (Courtesy) Sexual relationships with lecturers, student poverty, and weak gender-based violence (GBV) policies are fueling a surge in GBV and femicide across Kenyan universities. Students are reportedly coerced into sexual relationships by lecturers or senior students, while others remain in abusive relationships for financial support. In submissions to the Technical Working Group on GBV and Femicide, university students and representatives from the Ministry of Education said female students are the primary victims of harassment and exploitation within university environments. Dr. Jemima Onsare, CEO of the National Research Fund, representing the PS for Higher Education, highlighted power imbalances between male lecturers and female students often manifest in exploitative relationships, such as "sex for grades". "These abuses of power are rarely reported due to fear of victimisation or lack of faith in the institution's response mechanisms," said Onsare. Onsare added that deep-rooted patriarchal norms reinforce male dominance and female submission, normalizing violence. As a result, many students tolerate abuse due to fear of social exclusion or financial dependence, especially in transactional relationships with older men popularly known as "sponsors." Her concerns were echoed by the Women's Student Welfare Association (WOSWA) at the University of Nairobi who told the taskforce chaired by Dr Nancy Baraza that women tend to tolerate abusive and toxic romantic partners for financial benefits. According to Wanjiku Thinji, the president of WOSWA, sexual harassment is common among female students from their colleagues, university staff both academic and non-academic staff. "Some of the students have problems from home. They're not able to afford their meals and that means they get into very toxic relationships or they're not able to leave them because they don't have the financial capability to do so," said Ms Thinji. The students proposed for a reliable university funding for the needy students indicating that the current funding model disadvantages students from poor families. "If the money is disbursed on time it will help needy students to be able to afford their meals, accommodation, and this way they will avoid getting into toxic relationships or make them not be able to leave one," she argued. She further explained that patriarchy norms and misogyny has been very normalised. "Some online platforms promote male dominance and justify violence against women. When students from backgrounds where such behavior is normalized consume this content, it becomes harder to address at the university level," Thinji argued. On the other hand, Onsare pointed out that university students, especially young men, are often affected by harmful ideas about masculinity that promote dominance, control and sexual conquest. As a result, they may treat women like objects or use aggression to show power. Further, the taskforce was informed that many students are not aware about what constitutes harassment, coercion, or abuse, leading to widespread misinformation and normalization of violence. She also told the team that students do not understand sexual consent particularly in contexts involving alcohol and power imbalances hence increasing risks of non-consensual encounters. This means they might go along with sexual advances without truly or willingly agreeing, often because of pressure, confusion, or being under the influence. According to statistics presented to the taskforce, nearly 90 per cent of students in Nairobi's tertiary institutions have witnessed Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TF-GBV), with 39 per cent having experienced it personally. Onsare also noted that female students are disproportionately affected, with 64 percent reporting at least one form of online violence, compared to 35 per cent of male students. She identified common forms of TF-GBV in universities as online defamation, cyberbullying, and non-consensual sharing of intimate images. The platforms where TF-GBV most frequently occurs include X (formerly Twitter), WhatsApp, Facebook, Telegram, Instagram, and TikTok. These issues emerged at a time when the country is grappling with shocking cases of femicide in universities, where female students are being killed by their partners. The most recent case is the tragic murder of Sylvia Kemunto, a first-year student studying Mass Communication and Computer Science at Multimedia University (MMU). Kemunto was reportedly killed by a fellow a first-year Electrical Engineering student. According to police reports, he killed Kemunto after she resisted his advances. He told police that he visited Kemunto's room on the fateful day and when tried to touch her, she resisted, prompting a confrontation that turned fatal. Her body was discovered in a water tank at the rooftop of a hostel within the institution's compound. He allegedly put the body in a suitcase, wheeled it to his room before dumping it in a water tank at night. But cases of GBV in universities are becoming increasingly common due to the lack of clear policies on reporting incidents and addressing perpetrators. In her submission, Dr Onsare told the Baraza-led taskforce that many Kenyan universities lack comprehensive GBV prevention policies or fail to effectively implement existing frameworks. "Institutions often do not provide adequate protection or support for survivors, and in some cases, complaints are ignored or dismissed to protect the institution's reputation," she said. Such an environment, she added, discourages reporting and perpetuates a culture of silence and impunity, where survivors are discouraged from reporting and perpetrators are not held accountable. "Furthermore, the absence of confidential and survivor-centered reporting channels leaves victims vulnerable and without recourse,' Onsare added. Onsare proposed the development of a comprehensive GBV policy that clearly defines the various forms of GBV and applies to all members of the university community, including students, faculty, administrative staff, and visitors, both on and off campus. She also recommended the creation of anonymous online platforms, physical reporting desks, or mobile apps to allow students to report incidents confidentially in a survivor-centered environment that protects them from retaliation. Additionally, the Ministry suggested that the policy should require universities to provide medical, psychological, and legal support for survivors, as well as outline clear disciplinary actions for perpetrators, such as suspension, expulsion, or termination, depending on the severity of the offense. "Policies should require universities to conduct mandatory training on GBV, consent, and respectful relationships for students and staff," Onsare emphasised. "Universities must continuously collect data on GBV incidents, analyze trends, and publish findings. This helps in understanding the scope of the problem and tailoring interventions," she added.

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