A woman in northern Kenya facing gender-based violence should not need a smartphone, internet connection or expensive data plan to seek help. Recognising this, a team of young innovators from Marsabit County developed SirriSalama, a multilingual USSD platform that allows users to report gender-based violence and protection concerns anonymously from even the most basic mobile phones.
SirriSalama was one of five civic technology solutions unveiled at Afro Tech 2026, the culminating event of Nuru Trust Network’s Code for Human Rights program. Held on 20 June 2026 at USIU Africa in Nairobi, the event brought together innovators, policymakers, academics, civil society leaders, development practitioners and youth advocates to explore how technology can advance human rights while addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing communities across Kenya.