Sally (not her real name) has worked for one organisation for 10 years. Although she enjoys her job, the work environment has become toxic. She experiences yelling, intimidation, gossip influencing decisions and widespread sexual harassment. The stress has negatively affected her health, leading to hypertension and depression.
Sally's work situation is not unique. In a Gallup survey conducted by the International Labour Organisation in 2022, 22.8 per cent of persons at work (743 million) had experienced at least one form of violence and harassment during their working life, with 31.8 per cent stating that they had experienced all three forms of aggression, i e, physical, psychological and sexual harassment.
During this year's Labour Day celebrations, the President announced that Kenya would ratify Convention 190. Convention No 190 and Recommendation No 206 provide a framework to prevent, remedy and eliminate violence and harassment in the world of work, including gender-based violence and harassment.
Convention 190 defines workplace violence as “a range of unacceptable behaviours and practices, or threats thereof, whether a single occurrence or repeated, that aim at, result in or are likely to result in physical, psychological, sexual or economic harm and includes gender-based violence and harassment”.
The Convention applies to all sectors, whether private or public, both in the formal and informal economy, and whether in urban or rural areas.
Just like in Sally’s case, workplace violence has immediate and long-term impacts, including a loss of productivity, poor interpersonal relationships, absenteeism, high turnover and psychological illnesses that may develop because of a violent workplace environment.
Research conducted by the International Finance Corporation (2025) on the cost of Gender Based Violence and Harassment in Kenya’s Private Sector estimated a total annual cost of Sh95.5 billion (an equivalent of one per cent of national GDP) was lost on productivity. Another Sh28.5 billion was lost in HR-related costs.
The most recent report, a 2026 Gallup survey on the State of Global Workplace, gives a grimmer picture. It reported that employee engagement has fallen to 20 per cent—the lowest since Covid-19.
This engagement decline is costing the world economy an estimated $10 trillion in lost productivity. This means that 80 per cent of the global workforce is completely disengaged. In sub-Saharan Africa, employee engagement was a mere 19 per cent.
As part of the Institution’s mandate to do research, the Kenya School of Government, through its Gender Institute, will be engaging in a Workplace Protection conference at the Lower Kabete Campus on May 25-26, 2026. The theme of the conference is 'Evidence to Action: Fostering Safe and Decent Workspaces in Kenya’s Public Sector'.
Director, MK Institute of Gender and Social Development at the Kenya School of Government
