Women Nest

Women Nest We champion for the health and human rights of girls and women who use drugs in Kenya.

Women Nest had the opportunity to participate in an online Shelters Safeguarding Training organized by the National Shel...
28/07/2026

Women Nest had the opportunity to participate in an online Shelters Safeguarding Training organized by the National Shelters Network, bringing together shelters from across the country to enhance knowledge, share experiences, and strengthen safeguarding practices.
The training focused on the fundamental concepts and principles of safeguarding, equipping participating organizations with valuable insights to promote safe, accountable, and supportive environments for the individuals and communities they serve.
The sessions provided an important platform for collective learning, reflection, and collaboration among shelters, reinforcing the shared responsibility of upholding dignity, safety, and protection in service delivery.
Women Nest appreciates the National Shelters Network for facilitating this valuable capacity-building initiative and for its continued commitment to strengthening safeguarding standards across shelters nationwide.
Together, we continue working towards safer spaces and stronger support systems for all.

Women Nest was honored to participate in the International Network of Formerly Incarcerated Women (INFIW) 1st Virtual Co...
07/07/2026

Women Nest was honored to participate in the International Network of Formerly Incarcerated Women (INFIW) 1st Virtual Convening 2026, joining organizations from around the world committed to advancing justice for formerly incarcerated women.
A Women Nest member shared her lived experience of incarceration, the realities of reintegration, and the stigma many women continue to face after release. Her testimony reinforced the need for justice systems that uphold dignity, inclusion, and meaningful opportunities for women returning to their communities.
We also contributed to discussions on community-based alternatives to incarceration for women accused of non-violent offenses, highlighting the importance of rehabilitation, restorative justice, harm reduction, and approaches that keep women connected to their families and communities.
Together, we can build justice systems rooted in care, human rights, and hope.

Over the past month, Women Nest participated in the Makadara and Dagoretti Court Users Committee (CUC) meetings, bringin...
01/07/2026

Over the past month, Women Nest participated in the Makadara and Dagoretti Court Users Committee (CUC) meetings, bringing together representatives from the National Police Service, judicial officers, magistrates, probation officers, GBV actors, and civil society organizations to discuss barriers to accessing justice and identify practical solutions.

Key discussions focused on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases, delays in case resolution, and court congestion. Women Nest also highlighted the urgent need to protect access to methadone treatment for women in police custody and raised concerns about the growing number of petty offenders being incarcerated despite underlying social and health vulnerabilities.

We remain committed to advancing survivor-centered justice, protecting access to essential health services for women who use drugs in custody, and advocating for fair, inclusive, and community-based alternatives to incarceration.

As we wrap up this year's Support. Don't Punish campaign, we call for drug policies that put health, dignity, and human ...
26/06/2026

As we wrap up this year's Support. Don't Punish campaign, we call for drug policies that put health, dignity, and human rights first. Together with women who use drugs and key county representatives, we amplified the call to end drug-related incarceration and expand access to gender-responsive harm reduction services.
The campaign may be ending, but the call to action continues: Support. Don't Punish.

Today, as we marked the 2026 Support. Don't Punish. Global Day of Action, we shone a spotlight on women who use drugs an...
26/06/2026

Today, as we marked the 2026 Support. Don't Punish. Global Day of Action, we shone a spotlight on women who use drugs and gender-expansive people.
Together, we called for policies rooted in health, human rights, dignity, and inclusion—not punishment. Everyone deserves access to care, support, and opportunities to thrive.
Support, Don't Punish.

Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a significant challenge for women who use drugs. Many face violence from intimate pa...
25/06/2026

Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a significant challenge for women who use drugs. Many face violence from intimate partners, community members, and even law enforcement officers. Stigma and the criminalization of drug use often prevent survivors from seeking help, leaving them vulnerable and underserved.

At Women Nest, we are committed to advancing the rights, safety, and well-being of women affected by both violence and substance use.

As a key stakeholder in the Nairobi County Gender Technical Working Group, Women Nest joined other GBV service providers to strengthen referral pathways, improve coordination, and enhance support for survivors. We also shared our shelter model as a promising approach to supporting women affected by violence and substance use.

Addressing GBV requires a coordinated response that brings together health, legal, social protection, and community systems. Together, we can build safer, more inclusive spaces where every woman can access the support and protection she deserves.

03/06/2026

She was in recovery. Then she overdosed.

Maria, a mother of three, was born in Murang’a County before relocating to Nairobi, where she settled in one of the informal settlements. It was there that she was introduced to drug use.

In 2015, Maria became part of the first cohort enrolled in the methadone program a turning point in her recovery journey.
She later returned to her rural home in Murang’a, staying with her family for several months as part of her healing. Last month, she came back to Nairobi.
Then, in the last week of April, Maria experienced a suspected overdose linked to polydrug use after a long period without substance use.

Her death is a painful reminder of a reality we cannot ignore.
Overdose remains one of the leading and preventable causes of death among people who use drugs. It often happens when tolerance has changed, when support systems are weak, or when people are using in unsafe or isolated conditions.

Recovery is not linear.
And no one should have to navigate it alone.
Many women move between moments of progress and vulnerability. Without consistent, non-judgmental care, safe housing, mental health support, and harm reduction services, the risk of relapse and overdose increases.
This is not an individual failure.
It is a systems gap.
Behind this story is a mother. A daughter. A woman who deserved continuity of care, dignity, and sustained support.

We cannot continue responding only after loss.
We must act.
We urgently call for:
• Accessible overdose prevention and response services
• Sustained, community-based follow-up care
• Gender-responsive programming
• Integrated mental health and addiction support systems
No woman should be left without support in moments of highest risk.
No family should have to grieve a preventable loss.

UN Women Harm Reduction International Global Fund for Women UNODC - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Elton John AIDS Foundation Women First International Fund Africanpud

SHA was meant to make healthcare easier to access. But for many women who use drugs, it is still out of reach.At Women N...
13/05/2026

SHA was meant to make healthcare easier to access. But for many women who use drugs, it is still out of reach.

At Women Nest, we meet women every day who cannot access even basic health services.
Some don’t have identification documents, which makes it hard to register under SHA.
Others face stigma the moment they walk into a facility.
Many avoid seeking care altogether because they fear being judged or turned away.
And the impact is real.
Small health issues become serious.
Conditions worsen not because care isn’t available, but because it’s not accessible.
This is not what SHA was meant to be.

At the same time, we also know that documentation matters. Women Nest is working with partners to support women in getting IDs but access to healthcare should not have to wait.

We must do better.

We call for:
• Flexible ways to access SHA services while women are being supported to get documentation
• Less bureaucracy and more practical support to help people navigate registration
• Respectful, non-judgmental care in all health facilities
• Stronger collaboration with community organizations working directly with women

At Women Nest, we stand with women who use drugs not just in their struggles, but in their right to care, dignity, and support.
Because healthcare is not a privilege.
It is a right.

UN Women Harm Reduction International Global Fund for Women UNODC - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Elton John AIDS Foundation Africanpud INPUD Women First International Fund

We recently convened our first Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting of the year bringing together women from acros...
08/05/2026

We recently convened our first Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting of the year bringing together women from across our areas of work to shape what comes next for Women Nest.
This wasn’t just a meeting. It was a space for real conversations, shared experiences, and collective decision-making.
Together, we:
• Mapped out our 2026 calendar of activities
• Elected CAC leadership
• Identified priority areas that reflect the lived realities of women who use drugs and their children
At Women Nest, the CAC is not symbolic. It’s central. It ensures that the women we serve are not just participants, but decision-makers in the work that affects their lives.
Through this platform, we continue to strengthen accountability, build trust, and co-create interventions that are relevant, inclusive, and grounded in real community needs.
Because meaningful engagement is not a checkbox. It’s how lasting impact is built.

UN Women INPUD Elton John AIDS Foundation Global Fund for Women UNODC - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Women First International Fund Harm Reduction International Africanpud

She was on treatment. She was trying to rebuild her life. Then she was arrested and everything stopped.Mary Wambui is 26...
05/05/2026

She was on treatment. She was trying to rebuild her life. Then she was arrested and everything stopped.
Mary Wambui is 26. A mother working to rebuild her life.
In 2023, she enrolled in a Medically Assisted Therapy (MAT) program at Mathari Referral Hospital. She showed up every day.
On 13th February 2026, after receiving her treatment, Mary was arrested in Mathare.
She spent four days in custody without access to her medication.
By the time she reached court, she was weak and overwhelmed. She pleaded guilty and was fined Ksh 5,000 or three months in prison.
She could not pay.
So she was sent to prison.
Inside, her treatment was inconsistent. The withdrawal was painful. She felt unheard.
“I tried to explain my situation, but no one listened.”
Mary spent one month in prison before Women Nest secured her release by paying her fine.
But the struggle didn’t end there.
She returned home to find her house locked due to unpaid rent.
Women Nest stepped in again supporting her with rent and food as she slowly rebuilds.
Today, Mary is back on treatment and doing casual work step by step.
But her story is not rare.
When health, justice, and social systems don’t work together, women are punished instead of supported.

We must act.
• End the criminalization of survival and prioritize care over incarceration
• Ensure uninterrupted access to MAT, including in custody
• Protect the dignity and rights of women who use drugs
• Strengthen support systems for reintegration

Every woman deserves care.
Every woman deserves dignity.
Every woman deserves a second chance.

INPUD Global Fund for Women UN Women UNODC - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Elton John AIDS Foundation Harm Reduction International Africanpud

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Juja Road
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