Women Nest

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

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

She is 16. A mother. And she was locked out of healthcare when she needed it most.At just 16, Joy Hope has already lived...
27/04/2026

She is 16. A mother. And she was locked out of healthcare when she needed it most.

At just 16, Joy Hope has already lived through more than most.
She grew up in Kangemi without knowing her parents, in an environment where alcohol, instability and vulnerability were part of everyday life. She left school in Class 7 when fees became impossible to afford. Soon after, she was exploited and became a young mother alone, without support, healthcare, or guidance.

During her pregnancy, Joy was introduced to drugs. She gave birth at home, without antenatal care.
When the woman who raised her was arrested and later passed away, Joy and her newborn were left homeless sleeping in makeshift shelters (“kibandas”). Her baby missed early immunizations and fell ill. Without identification documents, Joy could not access healthcare. Without support, every day became a fight for survival.

Then something changed.
Women Nest reached her.

Joy and her baby were brought to safety. Today, they are in a shelter receiving safe housing, daily meals, medical care, and emotional support. Her baby is recovering. And for the first time in a long time Joy has hope.
But Joy’s story is not isolated.
Across Kenya, many women who use drugs (WUDs) especially those experiencing homelessness are locked out of healthcare systems. Without identification, they cannot access services under the Social Health Authority (SHA). Conditions that are treatable become life-threatening. Young mothers and their children are left behind.
Women Nest shelters are stepping in, but they should not have to carry this alone.

We must act.
We call on government, health systems, and partners to:
• Ensure access to healthcare regardless of documentation
• Remove barriers within SHA registration and service delivery
• Strengthen outreach to vulnerable women and children
• Invest in shelters and community-led support systems
No one should be invisible.
Not a mother. Not a child.
Joy’s story is not just about survival,
it is about what becomes possible when systems choose to care.

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

A life lost. A pattern we can no longer ignore.A young woman and mother, new to the community and trying to rebuild her ...
17/03/2026

A life lost. A pattern we can no longer ignore.

A young woman and mother, new to the community and trying to rebuild her life, was brutally killed in Mathare following an act of violence linked to everyday survival.

While we withhold her identity to protect her dignity and her family, her story reflects a deeper crisis the continued violence faced by women who use drugs, fueled by stigma, exclusion, and lack of protection.

No woman should be dehumanized. No woman should be left unprotected. No child should lose a mother to preventable violence.

At Women Nest, we are following up on this case, supporting efforts toward justice and working to trace and stand with the family.

This is a call to all of us:
To challenge stigma.
To demand accountability.
To build systems that protect, not punish.

Every woman deserves safety, dignity, and the right to live.


Nacada Kenya UNODC - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Harm Reduction International INPUD UN Women

08/03/2026

Happy International Women’s Day

Not all women experience equality in the same way.

For many girls and women who use drugs, stigma, discrimination, violence, and barriers to healthcare remain daily realities. At Women Nest, we work to change this by amplifying their voices, advocating for their health and human rights, and creating pathways to dignity, care, and opportunity.

This International Women’s Day, we reaffirm a simple truth: every woman deserves respect, access to health services, and the freedom to live without stigma or exclusion.

Together, we can build communities where no woman is left behind.

08/03/2026

Rights. Justice. Action. For all women and gender-diverse people.

We are formerly incarcerated women and gender-diverse people with lived experience.

We have survived punishment, stigma, and exclusion
but we are not defined by incarceration.

This International Women’s Day 2026, we stand together to demand:

Rights without discrimination.
Justice without exclusion.
Action beyond promises.

Our voices must be heard.
Our leadership must be recognized.




Yesterday, Women Nest participated in the International Network of Formerly Incarcerated Women (INFIW) 2nd Virtual Conve...
13/12/2025

Yesterday, Women Nest participated in the International Network of Formerly Incarcerated Women (INFIW) 2nd Virtual Convening 2025, a powerful platform to reflect on collective achievements and engage in forward-looking discussions shaping priorities for 2026.

The convening underscored the importance of survivor-led leadership, global solidarity, and coordinated action in advancing justice, dignity, and reintegration for formerly incarcerated women.

Women Nest remains committed to amplifying women’s voices and strengthening movements that leave no woman behind.

Yesterday, Women Nest joined partners and the Kamukunji Subcounty in a vibrant partnership walk to commemorate Human Rig...
11/12/2025

Yesterday, Women Nest joined partners and the Kamukunji Subcounty in a vibrant partnership walk to commemorate Human Rights Day and mark the close of the 16 Days of Activism.

Together, we engaged communities in non-formal settlements, raising awareness on human rights, challenging stigma, and amplifying conversations around sexual and reproductive health rights for women who use drugs.
Every woman deserves dignity, autonomy, and access to life-saving information and services without discrimination.

As the 16 days end, our commitment continues.
We will keep advocating. We will keep showing up. We will keep centering the voices of women.

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