Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Holds National Stakeholder Engagement in Nairobi

 The Technical Working Group on Gender-based Violence (GBV) and Femicide led by Dr. Nancy Baraza.

NAIROBI, April 4, 2025 
The Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Femicide convened a national-level stakeholder engagement forum in Nairobi, bringing together key actors in the fight against gender-based violence. The meeting aimed to evaluate the current status of GBV and femicide in Kenya, collect insights from the public and stakeholders, and strategize on the way forward in addressing this pressing national crisis.

The forum was led by Dr. Nancy Baraza, Chairperson of the Technical Working Group and a renowned legal scholar and advocate for women's rights. In her address, Dr. Baraza stressed the central role of public participation in the formulation of effective policy and action plans. “Public participation is not a choice; it is a constitutional mandate. We are now taking this engagement to the county level to involve communities directly affected by GBV and femicide,” she said.

Dr. Baraza disclosed that the Working Group has so far received numerous memoranda and submissions from members of the public, various civil society organizations, and government departments. These documents contain firsthand experiences, proposed legal reforms, and calls for urgent intervention. “The voices we’ve heard are powerful, and they reflect the urgency of the situation,” she noted.

The Chairperson revealed deeply troubling statistics: since 2016, Kenya has lost approximately 600 women to femicide, with many of the victims being between the ages of 15 and 35. Even more alarming, in just the past month alone, 190 lives have been lost, an indication of a rapidly escalating crisis.

Many of the GBV and femicide cases, she pointed out, are deeply rooted in cultural beliefs and practices that perpetuate discrimination and silence victims. The Working Group highlighted the need to confront these harmful traditions and educate communities on the value of gender equality and the rights of women and girls.

Dr. Baraza called on the Inspector General of Police to urgently review and enhance law enforcement responses to GBV cases. “The Inspector General must direct all officers across the country to prioritize GBV and femicide cases. These are emergencies and should be treated as such,” she said.

Despite the grim situation, Dr. Baraza acknowledged the progress made by some institutions. She lauded the judiciary for establishing specialized courts in select counties to expedite the hearing and resolution of GBV and femicide-related cases. These courts aim to reduce the backlog of cases and provide victims with faster access to justice.

She also commended the positive collaboration from the Ministry of Health, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), and various county governments that have begun rolling out safe spaces and rescue centers for survivors.

The Working Group plans to intensify its efforts by engaging with county governments, grassroots organizations, community leaders, and survivors to ensure that policies reflect lived realities. Dr. Baraza confirmed that the group will seek an extension of its mandate from the appointing authority to allow for more inclusive, county-level dialogues and consultations.

“Our goal is to deliver a comprehensive national strategy that reflects the voices of Kenyans from all walks of life. We want to ensure no more lives are lost, and no survivor is left behind,” she concluded.

The stakeholder engagement in Nairobi marks a significant milestone in the national response to gender-based violence and femicide and lays the foundation for a more inclusive, action-oriented approach to protecting women and girls in Kenya.

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