Breaking the Silence: Grassroots Women Leading Early Warning and Response in the Fight Against GBV and Violent Extremism

Linda Uchi engaging women during a Community-Led Initiative dialogue in Kilifi County.

In many communities, the realities of Gender-Based Violence and the risks of Violent Extremism are often hidden beneath layers of silence, stigma, and fear. Through the Mwanamke Imara initiative, Linda Uchi, one of the Mwanamke Imara Kilifi Cohort is challenging this silence by creating safe spaces for dialogue, learning, and collective action.

With support from the High Commission of Canada through Search for Common Ground and Youth and Women for Peace and Sustainable Development (YOWPSUD), she convened a community-led engagement that brought together a diverse group of women. Participants included religious leaders, village elders, and representatives from local women’s groups, each playing a critical role in shaping community norms and responses.

The session focused on introducing Early Warning Early Response (EWER) approaches, particularly in addressing GBV and preventing violent extremism. Through this “soft training,” participants explored how to identify early signs of risk, respond appropriately, and strengthen community-level prevention systems.

However, beyond the training itself, what emerged from the discussions painted a sobering picture.

Many women shared that GBV remains deeply underreported. For some, silence is a coping mechanism shaped by fear, fear of stigma, retaliation, or even the reporting process itself. Several participants recounted negative experiences when seeking justice, describing processes that felt dismissive, retraumatizing, or inaccessible. As a result, many women choose not to report cases at all.

A striking insight was the paradox of empowerment. While progress has been made in advancing women’s rights and visibility, many women still feel vulnerable. Some men may outwardly appear supportive or accepting of women’s empowerment, yet underlying dynamics of control and violence persist. In some cases, women themselves “camouflage” their experiences, presenting strength publicly while silently enduring abuse.

Trust in formal security systems also surfaced as a major concern. Participants expressed limited confidence in the police, citing gaps in responsiveness, sensitivity, and follow-through. This trust deficit underscores a critical need: stronger, more consistent engagement between security actors and communities at the grassroots level.

The dialogue highlighted that building effective EWER systems cannot happen in isolation. It requires continuous interaction between community members and security institutions, grounded in trust, accountability, and mutual understanding.

This initiative under Mwanamke Imara demonstrates the power of localized, women-led approaches. By bringing voices together and creating safe platforms for honest conversations, it begins to dismantle the barriers that keep GBV hidden. Yet, it also sends a clear message: more needs to be done.

Strengthening community security engagement, investing in survivor-centered reporting mechanisms, and expanding grassroots awareness on EWER are essential steps forward. Most importantly, amplifying women’s voices, not just as beneficiaries, but as leaders and change agents, remains at the heart of sustainable peace and protection.

When women speak, communities begin to listen.

When communities listen, change becomes possible.

At its core, the Mwanamke Imara initiative is intentionally building a strong pipeline of women leaders within security and justice systems who can influence change both institutionally and at the community level.

Through targeted capacity strengthening, mentorship, and platforms like this community dialogue, women officers and actors in these sectors are being equipped with skills on Early Warning Early Response, gender-sensitive approaches to GBV, and community engagement.

This dual positioning, within institutions and alongside communities, enables them to bridge critical trust gaps, respond more effectively to emerging risks, and champion more inclusive, survivor-centered approaches to safety and justice.

By investing in these women as leaders and connectors, Mwanamke Imara is not only strengthening institutions but also ensuring that community voices are reflected in how security and justice systems serve and protect.