Report: Kenya lacks standalone femicide law despite 10 pc rise in killings
Technical working group exposes legal gaps, fragmented services and cultural practices that perpetuate violence against women and girls..
✨ Key Highlights
A presidential technical working group has revealed that Kenya lacks a standalone law against femicide despite an alarming 10 percent rise in reported cases between 2022 and 2024, with 1,639 women killed. The report, chaired by former Deputy Chief Justice Nancy Baraza, exposes systemic failures in the country's response to gender-based violence.
- Nairobi, Meru, and Nakuru counties recorded the highest number of femicide cases.
- The Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence Including Femicide proposes defining femicide as a distinct offense and establishing a national toll-free helpline.
- Kenya loses approximately 46 billion shillings annually to costs related to gender-based violence, equivalent to 1.1 percent of gross domestic product.
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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.
