- “Too many lives are lost to criminal acts in Kenya. Gender-based violence (SGBV) is more than mere statistics. Alarmingly, the murders we see in the news are just a fraction of the real numbers. Crime is skyrocketing, and safety is slipping away,” Passaris stated.
Nairobi Women Representative Esther Passaris has condemned the alarming rise in violence and criminal acts in Kenya, particularly against women and girls. Through a statement on X, she has emphasized that the reported cases in the news represent only a fraction of the true extent of this troubling issue.
“Too many lives are lost to criminal acts in Kenya. Gender-based violence (SGBV) is more than mere statistics. Alarmingly, the murders we see in the news are just a fraction of the real numbers. Crime is skyrocketing, and safety is slipping away,” Passaris stated.
According to a report by Voice of America (VOA), over 7,100 cases of gender-based violence have been documented since September 2023. Included in this alarming statistic are 100 cases of murder against women reported since August 2024.
Former Deputy Chief Justice Nancy Baraza highlights the formation of a technical working group on Gender-Based Violence, consisting of 42 members dedicated to addressing this crisis. “We have human rights advocates and members from the Law Society of Kenya among other groups. This coalition brings together voices of those who have suffered and aims to tackle the GBV problem comprehensively,” she explains.
Baraza elaborated on the group's mission: “The reason for bringing these 42 members together is to coordinate efforts and approach the GBV issue as a collective responsibility of the Kenyan people.”
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On January 28, 2025, this technical working group was officially sworn in, marking a significant step toward combating the rising tide of gender-based violence across the nation.
