Why Nancy Baraza taskforce is rooting for a separate law on femicide
Dr Sam Thenya, the vice-chairperson of the Technical Working Group on Gender Based Violence Including Femicide; and Chairperson Nancy Baraza receive a presentation from National Crime Research Centre CEO Dr Mutuma Ruteere at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre on April 9, 2025.
What you need to know:
- Dr Nancy Baraza gave preliminary findings of their report during a meeting in Nairobi last week.
- She said her team has identified key gaps in policy and legal frameworks.
Every 11 minutes, somewhere in the world, a woman dies. In Kenya, that grim statistic translates to 47 women killed each week—their lives cut short not by strangers lurking in dark alleys, but by the very people they trusted most. As the nation grapples with a femicide crisis that has claimed over 300 lives in recent months, one truth has emerged from the darkness: Kenya is finally ready to confront what it has long chosen to ignore.
The acknowledgement came from the highest office in the land when President William Ruto declared gender-based violence(GBV) and femicide a national crisis—making Kenya the first country to officially recognise the epidemic that has been silently devastating families across the nation.
"Acknowledging you have a problem is a positive step towards finding solutions," said Dr Nancy Baraza, Chairperson of the Presidential Technical Working Group on GBV, as she presented preliminary findings from the taskforce's investigation.
The statistics paint a chilling picture of betrayal within the very spaces where women should feel safest. A shocking 60 per cent of femicides occur within domestic settings, often following years of unreported abuse that festers in silence until it explodes into fatal violence.
"The country is sick and tired of GBV and femicide," Dr Baraza observed, reflecting on the overwhelming public response to the taskforce's consultation process. "All our stakeholder engagements drew powerful testimonies and submissions from citizens across the country."
Those testimonies revealed a pattern as disturbing as it is familiar: about 75 per cent of the killings were committed by someone known to the victims—an intimate partner, relative, or friend. The betrayal runs deeper still, with the taskforce uncovering frequent cases of sexual abuse affecting children as young as three, often perpetrated by close family members.
Legal gap that costs lives
At the heart of Kenya's struggle lies a fundamental question: should femicide be treated as just another homicide, or does the gendered nature of these crimes demand distinct legal recognition?
Dr Baraza, the former Deputy Chief Justice, is unequivocal in her position. "We insist that femicide—characterised by persistent gender discrimination and occurring overwhelmingly in domestic settings—requires separate legal recognition," she declared.
The absence of specific legislation on femicide emerged as one of the most pressing findings from the taskforce's investigation. While some argue that existing homicide laws are sufficient, the working group believes that the unique circumstances surrounding these gendered killings warrant their own legal framework.
This legislative gap sits alongside other systemic failures that the taskforce identified: inadequate funding, breakdowns in family structures, and deeply entrenched cultural norms that continue to devalue women's lives.
"Women are reeling from negative cultural influences," Dr Baraza noted, pointing to one of the crisis's most complex dimensions. The investigation revealed how traditional attitudes and practices can create environments where violence against women is normalised or excused.
Children, too, are paying the price, increasingly left vulnerable in fractured family environments where protection systems have failed. The taskforce's findings suggest a society where the institutions meant to safeguard the most vulnerable—family, community, and traditional structures—have themselves become sources of danger.
The government's response has moved beyond policy papers and parliamentary debates to the streets themselves. On Monday, officials flagged off the Top Car Digital GBV campaign in partnership with Movimento, deploying four branded digital campaign vehicles across Nairobi to bring awareness and critical services directly to communities.
"This timely initiative is a testament to our commitment to harnessing innovation and technology in the fight against GBV," said Gender PS Ann Wang'ombe, as the mobile units prepared to disseminate key messages focused on prevention, protection, and response.
The urgency driving this initiative is reflected in the numbers: over 100 femicide cases have been reported in the last six months alone, with many more likely unreported. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 725 cases of femicide were reported in Kenya in 2024, translating to 2.66 per 100,000 women.
"This is a critical step in taking the conversation to the streets and grassroots, bridging the gap between policy and public engagement," Ann explained. "With over 100 femicide cases reported in the last six months—and many more likely unreported—the urgency to take decisive and creative action has never been more apparent."
Beyond statistics
For Ann, the digital campaign represents more than just a communications strategy.
"Femicide and all forms of GBV are heinous violations of human rights that must be condemned unreservedly," she emphasised. "The government remains steadfast in its commitment to eliminating these atrocities and promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls."
The campaign vehicles, she noted, are "not just modes of transport; they are carriers of hope, justice, and moving messages of national resolve."
"This digital campaign is more than just a communications initiative; it is a call to action. A call to our communities, to our leaders, to our youth, and to every citizen to stand up, speak out, and be part of the solution."
The taskforce, formed in January through a gazette notice from President Ruto, continues its work with terms of reference that include assessing, reviewing, and recommending measures to strengthen policies and structures aimed at eliminating GBV and femicide.
The gazette notice captured the gravity of the situation: "GBV, including femicide, continued to cause physical and emotional harm to individuals and families, who have to come to terms with the actions of perpetrators while crying out for justice."
It acknowledged "existing gaps in prevention, response, investigations, prosecution, data management, and survivor support systems in GBV and femicide," noting that "such egregious violations pose a threat to our national security and strain the nation's social fabric."
As Dr Baraza and her team prepare their final report, there is cautious optimism in her voice. "The report, which is under preparation, will reflect the voices of Kenyans," she said. "There is hope because Kenyans are tired and want to end femicide."
