Kenya has recorded 7,107 cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) from September 2023 to date, with Nairobi County registering the highest number of incidents, while Samburu and Mandera Counties reported the lowest.
Speaking during a security briefing at Harambee House, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi highlighted the alarming rise in SGBV cases and noted that urgent measures were being taken to address the crisis.
He revealed that from August to November 2024, the country recorded 100 cases of murders of women, underscoring the growing threat of femicide.
Mudavadi stated that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has completed investigations into these murders, with the majority of cases now pending before the courts.
In response to the escalating cases of femicide, the Inspector General of Police has established a specialized Missing Persons Unit under the DCI Homicide Unit to handle such cases effectively.
Additionally, on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, President William Ruto directed the formation of a Presidential Working Group on Femicide.
The group is expected to be gazetted soon and will be tasked with delivering actionable recommendations within 90 days.
The working group will engage religious leaders, parents, schools, security agencies and other stakeholders to identify gaps in the law enforcement mechanisms and societal values contributing to the crisis.
The move comes against the backdrop of Kenya’s recent national launch of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence on November 25, 2024, signalling the government’s renewed efforts to tackle gender-based violence head-on.
“As a country, we must recognize that addressing these crimes requires not just government action but a fundamental shift in societal attitudes and behaviours,” Mudavadi stated, emphasizing the importance of collective action in protecting women and girls.
The statistics paint a grim picture.
Global data from 2023 shows that every 10 minutes, a woman is intentionally killed by a partner or family member.
Locally, the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2022 revealed that 16 per cent of women and 10 per cent of men reported experiencing physical violence in the past 12 months.
Further, 34 per cent of women and 27 per cent of men have faced physical violence since the age of 15.
These numbers represent disrupted lives, derailed futures and weakened communities calling for urgent action to stem the crisis.
The government’s initiatives, combined with multi-agency collaborations and societal engagement, aim to create a safer environment for Kenya’s women and girls while addressing the root causes of gender-based violence and femicide.
