As an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and an experienced researcher, Ivy Kinuthia has spent much of her career at the intersection of law, technology, and human rights. She has worked on projects covering technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), data protection, and digital inclusion.
Her expertise has positioned her not only as a legal professional but also as a thought leader in shaping safer digital futures for women and marginalized groups.
When she reflects on the training she attended, Ivy says what stood out most was the breadth of knowledge and collaboration.
“The team was so knowledgeable, and the network was broad. You’d hear from so many different partners. The sessions broke down complex topics so succinctly. They were also fun and great for networking. Some of the people I met there ended up supporting our work later on.”
Yet, despite her legal training and professional awareness, Ivy admits her personal relationship with online spaces has been shaped by caution.
“Initially, I thought I hadn’t experienced TFGBV,” she explains. “But I realized it’s because I self-censor. I rarely post online because of what I’ve seen others go through. It protects me, but it’s not a solution. It silences my views, and that’s sad.”
For Ivy, self-censorship is both a shield and a loss. Without the threat of online harassment, she believes her online persona would be completely different: more open, more expressive, less guarded. “We shouldn’t have to choose between safety and expression,” she adds.
Her research has further deepened her perspective. Through interviews with survivors, influencers, and fellow lawyers, she has seen firsthand how widespread TFGBV is and how often it goes unrecognised.
“What struck me most was that many people don’t even realize certain behaviours amount to technology-facilitated violence. The stigma is huge, and yet offline behaviours are mirrored online. The opposite is also true: positive behaviour offline can influence better online conduct. Awareness is the missing link.”
When asked about legal remedies, Ivy is clear: victims should always pursue avenues for justice where possible.
“If there’s a legal channel, use it. Even if it’s to teach someone a lesson, it helps prevent harm to others. The more cases are reported, the more visible this issue becomes. If we keep silent, it’s not seen as a priority, but in reality, it can turn people’s lives upside down.”
Still, she acknowledges the barriers victims face, especially in police stations.
“The feedback about the police response has been terrible. Victims are often trivialized or turned away. It’s already hard to report, and then to be dismissed? That pushes many to give up. The police need training. If they can change in other areas, they can change in this too. Women spend so much time online, we need to feel safe in those spaces.”
For Ivy, creating safer digital environments is not just about frameworks and institutions. It’s also about individual responsibility.
“Sometimes we think it’s about others, but we forget how we perpetuate harm to ourselves. Even if you don’t post, what you say in the comments matters. Those spaces can fuel TFGBV, or they can shut it down. Each of us has a role to play.”
Her message is simple yet powerful: safer online spaces require collective effort from lawmakers and platforms to police officers and everyday users.