As the world pauses to observe the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), this year, under the “Unite to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls” we are reminded of the growing threat women and girls face, not only online but in the communities where their voices are often silenced.
Understandably, as the world turns its focus on online facilitated gender violence, it is equally critical to highlight the hidden abuse women in the tea value chain face. This sector, an engine of economic livelihood for thousands, relies heavily on women’s labour. Yet many of these same women remain unprotected, unheard, and undervalued.
This was further highlighted by a 2023 BBC documentary titled “True cost of our tea: Sexual abuse on Kenyan tea farms revealed” More than 70 women on Kenyan tea farms, owned for years by two British companies, told the BBC they had been sexually abused by their supervisors. This showed the stark realities of abuse of women in the tea sector
This directly reflects the World Bank report that at least two out of every five women and girls (42 per cent) in East and Southern Africa experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetimes. The data finds that the effects of gender-based violence (GBV) go beyond the survivors to negatively impact families and communities, even spanning generations.
The African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls defines such violence as any act that causes or could cause verbal, emotional, physical, sexual, psychological, or economic harm. It emphasises that these abuses occur not only in homes and workplaces, but also in public spaces and online, in times of peace or crisis.
In response to these challenges, TrustAfrica has strengthened its advocacy efforts across the continent through Reclaim Sustainability! Programme, implemented in collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and local partners. The programme works to fight abuse by building capacities in global value chains and trade, ensuring that women, who are the main pillars in these sectors, can grow wealth with dignity, safety and inclusivity.
In a recent interview, Beatrice Tonui, Chairperson of the Women in Tea Value Chain Association (WiTEVA) and a key partner of TrustAfrica in Kenya, bemoaned the complexity of the issue. According to her, despite progress made in raising awareness, many women continue to suffer in silence, facing physical and emotional abuse, income inequalities, harassment and economic marginalisation. Women are not valued in leadership in sector dominated by men in decision making. Adding that the challenge is compounded by a lack of awareness and reporting mechanisms, as these women often fear the repercussions or do not know where to seek help.
Noting the urgent need to address GBV in the tea sector, TrustAfrica partnered with WiTEVA in December 2024 for the Transformative Feminist Leadership and Governance training aimed at strengthening the association’s capacity to confront GBV across tea-growing communities. This workshop followed a sector-wide multi-stakeholder dialogue on integrating gender and environmental and social governance considerations into Kenya’s national tea policy. It also responded to the BBC’s courageous exposé, which revealed widespread sexual exploitation in the sector and brought global attention to the issue.
Since then, notable successful interventions have amplified the voices of women pluckers, factory workers and farmers on GBV and advocated for meaningful change. Women’s groups collaborated with local authorities to educate and mediate conflicts between couples, helping families rebuild trust and stability. These initiatives led to a direct decrease in GBV incidents, demonstrating that focused interventions can make a significant difference.
WiTEVA has further strengthened its outreach by launching a broad awareness campaign to educate women on their rights. As part of this initiative, the association has distributed sanitary and hygiene kits to women and girls, addressing critical needs that often go unmet due to lack of funds.
Moreover, while the training programs aimed at empowering women have shown promise, the need for more in-depth research regarding GBV’s impact on children within these communities is clear. The voices of these young people often go unheard, and their experiences need to be documented and addressed.
As we reflect on the impact of GBV in the tea sectors across all the countries where TrustAfrica operates—Mozambique, Malawi, Kenya, and Uganda—it is crucial to advocate for a stronger collective voice and action against GBV. There is a need for an organised, unified voice that can influence policies affecting not only the rights of women but also their economic opportunities. Meaningful change will stem from sustained collaboration, ongoing commitment, advocacy, and the courage to challenge long-standing norms.
The path ahead is long, but the steps already taken show that change is not only possible—it is happening.
By Bethule Nyamambi, Manager, Equitable Development, TrustAfrica
