This table provides metadata for the actual indicator available from Kenya statistics closest to the corresponding global SDG indicator. Please note that even when the global SDG indicator is fully available from Kenyan statistics, this table should be consulted for information on national methodology and other Kenyan-specific metadata information.
Goal |
Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls |
---|---|
Target |
Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation |
Indicator |
Indicator 5.2.2: Proportion of women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to sexual violence by persons other than an intimate partner in the previous 12 months, by age and place of occurrence |
Metadata update |
2024 |
Related indicators |
5.2.1, 11.7.2, 16.1.3, 16.2.3 |
Organisation |
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics |
Contact person(s) |
Senior Manager, Population Statistics |
Contact organisation unit |
Population and Social Statistics Directorate |
Contact person function |
Collect, compile, analyze and disseminate Statistics on Population |
Contact phone |
+254735004401, +254202911000, +254202911001 |
Contact mail |
30266-00100 NAIROBI |
Contact email |
dpss@knbs.or.ke |
Definition and concepts |
Definition: This indicator measures the percentage of women and girls aged 15 years and older who have experienced sexual violence by persons other than an intimate partner, in the previous 12 months. Concepts: According to the UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (1993), Violence against Women is “Any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life. Violence against women shall be understood to encompass, but not be limited to Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring within the general community, including rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment and intimidation at work, in educational institutions and elsewhere, trafficking in women and forced prostitution. Sexual violence is defined as any sort of harmful or unwanted sexual behaviour that is imposed on someone, whether by use of physical force, intimidation, or coercion. It includes acts of abusive sexual contact, forced sexual acts, attempted or completed sexual acts (intercourse) without consent (rape or attempted rape), non-contact acts such as being forced to watch or participate in pornography, etc. In intimate partner relationships, sexual violence is commonly operationally defined in surveys as; a) physically forcing the victim to have sexual intercourse with him when she did not want to b) physically forcing the victim to perform any other sexual act that she did not want to c) forcing the victim with threats or in any other way to perform sexual acts she did not want to. Place of occurrence of sexual violence by persons other than an intimate partner in the previous 12 months was also collected and categorized as; the victims own home, some other house or apartment, elsewhere in a residential building, at school or workplace, café/restaurant/pub/club/disco, in a shop, elsewhere indoors, in the street/square/parking lot/other public space. In public transport or any other place. |
Unit of measure |
Per cent |
Classifications |
UN Guidelines for Producing Statistics on Violence against Women (2014) UNODC International Classification of Crime for Statistical Purposes (ICCS) 2015 |
Data sources |
Gender Based Violence Module from Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) |
Data collection method |
The 2022 KDHS employed a two-stage stratified sample design where in the first stage, 1,692 clusters were selected from the K-HMSF using the Equal Probability Selection Method (EPSEM). The clusters were selected independently in each sampling stratum. Household listing was carried out in all the selected clusters, and the resulting list of households served as a sampling frame for the second stage of selection, where 25 households were selected from each cluster. Interviews were conducted only in the pre-selected households and clusters; no replacement of the preselected units was allowed during the survey data collection stages. In the survey, the module on GBV was administered in accordance with the World Health Organization’s guidelines on the ethical collection of information on gender-based violence (WHO 2001). The module was implemented in a subsample of households where a total of 16,926 women age 15–49 (unweighted) and 5,583 men age 15–49 (unweighted) eligible for the module were interviewed successfully. The method of data collection used was interviews, where selected individuals aged 15 -49 were asked on their experience on violence committed on any perpetrator, including current and former spouses or other intimate partners. |
Data collection calendar |
Every 5 years |
Data release calendar |
2027 |
Data providers |
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics |
Data compilers |
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics |
Institutional mandate |
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) is established under the Statistics Act, 2006 as the principal agency of the Government for collecting, analyzing and disseminating statistical data in Kenya and as the custodian of official statistical information. |
Rationale |
Violence against women and girls is one of the most pervasive forms of human rights violations in the world. Having data on this indicator will help understand the extent and nature of this form of violence and develop appropriate policies and programmes. |
Comment and limitations |
Regularity of data collection; Monitoring this indicator with certain periodicity may be a challenge if sustained capacities are not built and financial resources are not available. Willingness to discuss experiences of violence and understanding of relevant concepts may also differ according to the cultural context and this can affect reported prevalence levels. This indicator calls for disaggregation by age group and place of occurrence. No standard definitions and methods have been globally agreed yet to collect data on the place where the violence occurs |
Method of computation |
Number of women and girls aged 15 years and above who experience sexual violence by persons other than an intimate partner in the previous 12 months divided by the number of women and girls aged 15 years and above in the population multiplied by 100. |
Validation |
Implementation of the 2022 KDHS was done in collaboration with several stakeholders throughout the entire process. Additionally, among other committees, a technical working committee was developed which included technical officers and subject matter specialists on various thematic areas from key stakeholders. |
Methods and guidance available to countries for the compilation of the data at the national level |
Data on sexual violence was gathered through a GBV module that was added to the KDHS. Although administrative data from health, police, courts, justice, and social services, among other services used by survivors of violence, can provide information on VAW, which do not provide prevalence data, but rather incidence data or service use (i.e., number of cases received in/who seek services). Many women who are subjected to abuse do not report or seek help for the violence and those who do, tend to be the most serious cases. Therefore, administrative data are not recommended as a data source for this indicator. For more information on recommended practices in the production of VAW statistics, see UN Guidelines for Producing Statistics on Violence against Women- Statistical Surveys (UN, 2014). |
Quality management |
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics is ISO certified based on 9001:2015 Standard requirements. The processes of compilation, production, publication and dissemination of data, including quality control, are carried out following the methodological framework and standards established by the KNBS, in compliance with the Internationally acceptable standards. |
Quality assurance |
The KNBS adheres to Kenya Statistical Quality Assurance Framework (KesQAF) that underlines principles to be assured in managing the statistical production processes and output. Data consistency and quality checks are conducted through Technical Working Groups (TWGs) before publication and dissemination. |
Quality assessment |
The KNBS adheres to Kenya Statistical Quality Assurance Framework (KesQAF) that underlines principles to be assured in managing the statistical production processes and output. Data consistency and quality checks are conducted through Technical Working Groups (TWGs) before publication and dissemination. |
Data availability and disaggregation |
Data Availability Data available at National level and County level. Time Series 2014, 2022 Disaggregation Disaggregated by age, residence, marital status, employment, education and wealth quintile |
Comparability/deviation from international standards |
None |
References and Documentation |
https://undocs.org/en/A/RES/48/104 https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/ Kenya DHS 2022 Main Report - Volume 1 - Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (knbs.or.ke) |
Metadata last updated | Aug 28, 2025 |