In a survey carried out by Women’s Empowerment Link (WEL) in 2015, in the wake of the #MyDressMyChoice protest in 2014, it was found that 54% of women had experienced gender based violence (physical, sexual or psychological harm) while using public transport. The women shared that they been harassed, with the abuse ranging from derogatory comments to rape. Many witnessed female passengers being stripped naked, but the female survivors neither received any help nor reported the violation, and they reported a culture of silence held up by both male and female passengers. We also have a Geopoll survey from 2016 that highlighted that at least 46% of women in Kenya have been harassed by matatu crews.

We’re joined by Mary Mwangi, Programs Manager at Flone Initiative, to discuss the relationship between women and public transport.

Resources

Eastern Africa Women in Transportation Conference Report

Gender Sensitive Mini-Bus Services & Transport Infrastructure for African Cities: A Practical Toolkit

How to Ease Women’s Fear of Transportation Environments: Case Studies and Best Practices

Gender and Urban Transport

Gender in Public Transportation: A Perspective of Women Users of Public Transportation

Approaches for Gender Responsive Urban Mobility

Women in the Transport Sector

Women and Urban Transport: Draft Policy [India]

Safety In Kenya’s Public Transport Vehicles (Matatu)

I Just Wanted To Go Home

Women and transportation in East Africa

Women are changing the narrative in East Africa’s public transport sector

Violence against Women and Girls in Public Road Transport and Connected Spaces in Nairobi County, Kenya

Report on Mobility of Care Assessment of Nairobi’s Public Minibus Transport Services

Report on Gender Equity Assessment of Nairobi’s Public Minibus Transport Services

Why your Public Transportation Sucks - Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj

2019 Women and Transport Africa Conference

Tumi’s 5 Principles to Empower Women in Transport

Episode 77: The Problem With Our Roads

Image Credit: East Africa Women In Transport Conference