Murang’a: 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.
According to Kenya News Agency, 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. Baraza stated that the group is actively visiting counties across Kenya to gather public views, identify root causes, and assess the extent of GBV and femicide nationwide. The team is examining the role of cultural norms, family structures, social media influences, as well as national resource allocation in addressing the crisis.
The group aims to produce a final report that will include short-term, medium-term, and long-term policy recommendations grounded in public input. Baraza asserted that the public’s engagement has been encouraging, indicating that Kenyans are ready to be part of the solution. She assured the public that their concerns will be reflected in the final recommendations, noting that implementation will require collective responsibility from all members of society.
Murang’a County GBV coordinator, Patrick Kariuki, highlighted that according to the 2022 Kenya Demographic Health Survey, the county has been ranked among the leading counties in cases of GBV. He noted that Murang’a leads in various forms of violence, including sexual and physical violence, intimate partner violence, and harmful cultural practices like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and early child marriages. In response, the county government undertook an extensive survey in 2023 to further assess the situation.
The GBV coordinator explained that the county government identified financial constraints, alcohol and drug abuse, and cultural practices such as paying dowry as leading causes of GBV in the county. Kariuki emphasized the heightened risks faced by vulnerable groups, such as people living with disabilities, and outlined the county’s action plan to tackle GBV by involving different community groups. He urged the government to create a special fund to address GBV-related matters and establish a legal framework to ensure accountability for those hindering victims’ access to justice.
Kenya stands out as the first country where the government has proactively addressed 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, with the mandate now extended to deliver the final report by June 8.
