Nairobi Women Representative Esther Passaris has joined thousands of Kenyans and South Africans in a growing movement demanding that gender-based violence be declared a national disaster. Taking to her official X account, Passaris emphasized that the fight against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) goes beyond national borders, describing it as a global pandemic that affects communities everywhere.
“I stand in solidarity with South Africa in calling for SGBV to be declared a national disaster. This is not just a South African issue; it’s a global pandemic. It touches close to home. We continue to speak, we continue to act,” said Passaris.
As part of her message, she paid tribute to several Kenyan women whose lives were tragically lost to gender-based violence. “Today, we remember our own Kenyans who have died at the hands of SGBV: Agnes Tirop, Rita Waeni, Starlet Wahu, Amanda Mutheu, Susan Nabwire, and many more,” she wrote, urging followers to “say their names, victims, survivors, women, and children such as Amanda. For her. For me. For you.”
How Is Purple Week Shaping the Fight Against GBV?
The Purple Week movement has gained massive traction across Africa, transforming timelines into waves of purple as people change their profile photos and captions to lavender hues. The color represents unity, mourning, and strength in the fight against gender-based violence.
In West Pokot County, human rights activist Emmanuel Ng’olepus Kiptoo echoed Passaris’ message while reflecting on the realities faced by women in his community. “Being from a marginalised pastoralist community in West Pokot, Kenya, I was raised witnessing great violations of girls’ and women’s rights,” Ng’olepus shared on X.
He recounted how harmful practices like female genital mutilation and early marriages have long been normalized. “GBV was normalised, FGM/C was part of life, and early and forced marriages were a family survival card, but I stand to say NO,” he stated.
The digital wave is part of the lead-up to the G20 Women’s Shutdown on November 21, 2025. What began as a local campaign in South Africa has evolved into a continental call to action. The purple avatars symbolize solidarity and a demand for immediate, tangible measures to address gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
By Modester Nasimiyu
