GBV Taskforce Calls for Criminalisation of Out-of-Court Settlements in Abuse Cases
The taskforce urged the government to amend national laws to explicitly prohibit informal, customary, or negotiated resolutions of criminal GBV cases. - Kenya breaking news | Kenya news today | Capitalfm.co.ke..
✨ Key Highlights
The Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Technical Working Group in Kenya has proposed critical legal reforms to criminalize out-of-court settlements in GBV cases, including femicide and sexual offenses, aiming to improve access to justice for survivors.
- The taskforce presented its report to President William Ruto, urging amendments to national laws to prohibit informal resolutions for criminal GBV cases.
- The Penal Code and other relevant statutes would be amended to define GBV offenses as non-compoundable crimes.
- The proposed reforms would also criminalize individuals who facilitate illegal settlements, such as family members or community leaders.
- The taskforce emphasized that these changes are grounded in the Constitution, which guarantees rights to life, dignity, equality, and access to justice.
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GBV Taskforce Presents Femicide Report, Proposes Legal Reforms and Sh50 Billion Fund - January 2026
President William Ruto received a report on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and femicide from a taskforce led by former Deputy Chief Justice Dr. Nancy Baraza, pledging a coordinated national response to what is described as a national crisis. The report revealed that Kenya lacks a standalone femicide law despite a 10 percent rise in reported killings between 2022 and 2024. The Technical Working Group on GBV has proposed several reforms, including mandatory chemical castration for child sex offenders and criminalizing out-of-court settlements in abuse cases. Furthermore, the taskforce urged the National Treasury to allocate a ring-fenced Sh50 billion in the 2026/2027 financial year to establish a dedicated response fund. President Ruto also called on all Kenyans to take collective responsibility in ending gender-based violence.
