• The members of the taskforce are professionals sourced from different sectors. They include Citizen TV's investigative journalist, Frankline Wallah, Law Society of Kenya's President Faith Odhiambo, Nairobi Women Hospital founder, Dr. Sam Thenya and Linah Jebii Kilimo, former Member of Parliament.

President William Ruto has appointed a 42-member taskforce to the ever rising femicide and Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the country.

The taskforce which was appointed on January 10, 2025 will be led by former Chief Justice, Nancy Barasa and will be reporting to the Deputy President, Kithure Kindiki through the Principal Secretary for Gender, Anne Wang'ombe. It is expected to submit its findings to the President within 90 days.

The members of the taskforce are professionals sourced from different sectors. They include Citizen TV's investigative journalist, Frankline Wallah, Law Society of Kenya's President Faith Odhiambo, Nairobi Women Hospital founder, Dr. Sam Thenya and Linah Jebii Kilimo, former Member of Parliament.

Last year alone saw 97 femicide cases and estimated 4,000 GBV cases every month. On November 20, 2024, the President stated that the government had allocated 100 million shillings to fight the dreadful occurrence.

The Cabinet on December 17, 2024, approved the setting up of the working group to handle the matter. “The working group will engage religious leaders, parents, schools, security agencies, and all other stakeholders to identify gaps in law enforcement and social values that contribute to this crisis,” a dispatch from Cabinet indicated.

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While stressing the need to uphold human rights, the President pointed the constitutional provisions including Article 26 (Right to Life), and Article 29 (Freedom and Security of Person), as critical in structuring the State’s response to these violations.

“Every Kenyan has a right to live in dignity, free from fear and violence. It is our collective duty to ensure that these rights are protected and upheld,” said President Ruto.

According to the Gazette Notice, the taskforce is mandated to assess, review and recommend measures to strengthen institutional, legal and policy response to GBV and femicide. This includes identifying its trends, hotspots and causes.

According to United Nations (UN) Women, on the International Day for the elimination of Violence against Women, the report Femicides in 2023: Global Estimates of Intimate Partner/Family Member Femicides, revealed that femicide which is the most extreme form of violence against women and girls remains pervasive globally with 85,000 women and girls being killed intentionally in 2023.