The Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Femicide has intensified its nationwide efforts to tackle the growing menace of violence against women, as the country grapples with grim statistics.
Since 2016, nearly 700 women have lost their lives to femicide and the statistics now show an average of 40 women are killed every month, highlighting a national crisis that has prompted swift action from the highest levels of government.
Speaking during a public participation forum in Murang’a Town, the Chairperson of the working group, Nancy Baraza emphasized the urgent need to address the underlying causes of gender-based violence.
“Our social fabric is being threatened, and even economic activities are being disrupted,” she said.
“This is why the President established this working group to find sustainable, community-driven solutions,” he added.
Baraza said the group is touring counties across Kenya to gather public views, identify root causes, and assess the extent of GBV and femicide nationwide; looking beyond laws and institutional reforms, the team is examining the role of cultural norms, family structures, social media influences as well as national resource allocation in addressing the crisis.
“This is a deeply pervasive issue in our society, it is not a one-day matter.” she noted.
“We are looking into every facet of our lives, from family dynamics to schools, workplaces, and communities. This is a social problem that touches all of us,” she added.
According to the group, the final report will include short-term, medium-term, and long-term policy recommendations and the proposals will be grounded in public input, with data collected from across the country and synthesized alongside the memoranda received from stakeholders.
“The President expects clear policy direction from us, and we are confident we will deliver. The public’s engagement has been encouraging, and it shows that Kenyans are ready to be part of the solution,” she said.
Baraza assured the public that their concerns will be reflected in the final recommendations noting that ultimately, implementation will require collective responsibility, with all members of society including men, women, schools, and institutions playing an active role to ensure the safety of all Kenyans.
Murang’a county GBV coordinator, Patrick Kariuki, on his part said, noted that according to the 2022 Kenya Demographic Health Survey, the county has been ranked among the counties leading in cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
“Murang’a leads in various forms of violence, including sexual and physical violence, intimate partner violence, and even harmful cultural practices like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and early child marriages,” he said.
He noted that following the survey the county government acted promptly in order to reduce the cases of GBV.
“In response, in 2023 the county government undertook an extensive survey to assess the situation further and understand the scope of the problem with the results of the survey confirming that GBV was indeed prevalent across the county,” he stated.
The GBV coordinator explained that the county government took a step further to establish the root courses of the violence and that financial constraints, alcohol and drug abuse, and cultural practices such as paying dowry were found to be among the leading causes of GBV in the county.
One of the most vulnerable groups, according to Kariuki, are people living with disabilities, who often face heightened risks of abuse and marginalization.
He noted that the county started working on an action plan to tackle GBV by involving different community groups and now has sub-county technical working groups that can address the GBV issues at the grassroots level.
He called upon the government to create a special fund to address matters related to GBV noting that costs associated with community sensitization, rescue operations, medical treatment and psycho-social support of victims are substantial.
He also noted that there is a need to establish a legal framework that will ensure that anyone who hinders a victim of GBV from accessing justice is held accountable.
Kariuki further called upon the government to establish at least one rescue center in every county noting that sometimes victims of GBV are forced to go back home to their abusers even after seeking help.
Kenya stands out as the first country where the government has taken a proactive approach to addressing GBV and femicide through an official technical working group.
The initiative, established by President William Ruto in January, was originally given 90 days to deliver a report. The mandate was later extended, with the final report now expected by June 8.
By Purity Mugo and Bernard Munyao
