A Qualitative Exploration of Gender-Based Violence Throughout the Migration Journey Among Refugee Women in Nairobi, Kenya

Background Gender-based violence (GBV) is a serious public health issue and violation of human rights that disproportionately impacts refugee women. This qualitative study explores GBV among urban refugee women in Nairobi, Kenya, focusing on violence experienced throughout the migration journey (i.e., in the country of origin, in transit, and while awaiting refugee status determination). For purposes of triangulation service providers voices are incorporated. Methods Data collection involved two integrated phases. In Phase I, we conducted in-depth interviews with 50 female refugees who survived GBV and represented diverse national backgrounds, all of whom were in Nairobi. In Phase II, we interviewed 20 service providers working with refugees in Nairobi to contextualize and triangulate the accounts of survivors. Thematic analysis was employed to identify patterns of GBV across the migration journey. Results The findings revealed that refugee women experience multiple and intersecting forms of GBV at each stage of the migration journey. In their country of origin, participants reported that forms of GBV were often tied to war and displacement. During transit, women described exploitation, sexual assault, and violence at checkpoints and borders. In Nairobi, survivors reported ongoing risks, including intimate partner violence, financial abuse, and technology-facilitated violence, compounded by poverty, legal precarity, and stigma. Conclusion This study highlights the continuity of GBV across displacement, with some forms of violence shifting and some staying the same but persisting across the three stages. The findings indicate the need for survivor-centered interventions that address cultural, structural, and systemic drivers of GBV while strengthening protection and services for urban refugees. By centering on refugee women’s voices, this study contributes to the evidence gap in GBV among displaced populations in Sub-Saharan Africa.