A government-appointed taskforce in Kenya has warned that the country is struggling to respond effectively to the rising tide of femicide cases—because there’s no law that clearly defines it.
The Presidential Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide says the gap in the law is making it harder for police and courts to tackle the problem. Right now, femicide is lumped together with general murder, and that’s part of the issue.
“We’ve done our research. There is no legal framework or law on femicide,” the taskforce said in a statement this week. “Murder is defined in the penal and criminal procedure code—but femicide needs to be treated as its own, more serious crime.”
The group, led by former Deputy Chief Justice Nancy Barasa, wants Parliament to act fast. They are calling for new laws to clearly define femicide and give law enforcement better tools to track, investigate, and prosecute these cases.
A Deadly Pattern
Femicide—typically defined as the killing of a woman because she is a woman—has been rising steadily in Kenya. But experts say it’s hard to know the full scale of the problem, because many cases go unreported or are misclassified.
Anne Ireri, chair of the technical working group, spoke at a recent forum in Mombasa. She said silence is making the crisis worse.
“We have witnessed many cases that are unreported compared to the ones that are reported. We should report to get statistics, which will aid the government in planning and allocation of resources to the cases,” she said.
Laws Exist, but Coordination Is Lacking
Kenya does have laws on gender-based violence (GBV), but the taskforce says enforcement is patchy, and coordination between government agencies is weak.
Some counties have built rescue centres for survivors. Others, like Migori, have none. The taskforce is asking President William Ruto to fund new centres in underserved areas.
“We will make recommendations to His Excellency the President so that resources can be channelled to the counties,” the taskforce said.
The group believes rescue centres are critical for recovery and rehabilitation, especially in rural areas where survivors often have nowhere to turn.
A National Wake-Up Call
President Ruto formed the taskforce in January 2025, after a public outcry over growing violence against women and a string of highly publicised femicide cases. The move followed months of pressure from rights groups and the public.
In the past year, concerns have also grown around rising rates of rape, suicide, and mental health issues linked to violence. The taskforce says better data collection is needed—and that means more victims must feel safe coming forward.
The proposed changes won’t solve the crisis overnight, but the taskforce says they’re a vital step.
“By clearly defining femicide,” the statement read, “we distinguish it from ordinary murder—because femicide is an aggravated form of murder.”
As Kenya reckons with a disturbing wave of violence, pressure is now mounting on lawmakers to act. For many families, change can’t come soon enough.
