Nairobi: A network of Catholic sisters in Kenya has raised alarm over an increase in online harassment and digital gender based violence targeting women religious across the country. The Communication Network for Catholic Sisters says more sisters are reporting cases of cyberbullying identity theft deepfake content and threatening messages on social media platforms.

The concern was shared as part of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence which runs from late November to early December. Leaders of the network say the growing problem threatens not only the dignity and safety of individual sisters but also the mission work they carry out in communities.

Sister Adelaide Felicitas Ndilu a Kenyan nun who collaborates with the Vatican Dicastery for Communication said many online attacks appear to be aimed at silencing sisters who use digital platforms to share faith based messages or advocate for social justice.

She warned that fake profiles pretending to be Catholic sisters have also appeared online sometimes using stolen photos to mislead the public.
She described the trend as dangerous and called for greater awareness training and accountability from digital platforms.

Despite the risks Sister Adelaide urged religious women not to withdraw from social media saying it remains an important space for evangelization especially for young people who spend much of their time online. She encouraged Catholic institutions to support safe digital presence through training and verified official accounts.

The network says it plans to work with Church institutions and communication experts to develop guidelines and strengthen protection for religious women online. The group also hopes that speaking publicly about the issue will help more sisters feel safe to report harassment and seek support.

As digital platforms become more central to communication in Kenya the sisters say the Church must adapt while ensuring those serving in ministry are respected and protected online.