MPs demand urgent action on rising gender-based violence cases across Kenya

Members of the National Assembly have raised alarm over the growing wave of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Sexual Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), calling for stronger laws, faster justice, and a united front across political and social divides to combat the menace.

The outcry followed a statement by the Chairperson of the Committee on Administration and Internal Security, Gabriel Tongoyo, responding to a question by Kericho Woman Representative Beatrice Kemei.

She had sought clarification on the extent of femicide and other GBV cases in Kericho County.

Tongoyo revealed disturbing statistics: in just four months, between April and July, Kericho reported two cases of femicide, nine cases of rape, three gang rapes, two sexual assaults, and 77 incidents of child defilement.

“This is a serious problem in our society. In less than 10 months, Kericho alone has recorded over 100 GBV cases. These numbers are not unique to Kericho; they can be replicated in many other counties,” Tongoyo told the House.

The figures sparked a debate among MPs. Kemei urged her male colleagues to join hands with women legislators in addressing the crisis, warning that the fight cannot be won without their support.

“If we do not get support from our male counterparts, we will not go far in this fight. SGBV affects everyone in one way or another,” she said.

She also criticised law enforcement and the justice system, blaming delayed court cases and police laxity for fueling the surge in GBV.

Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula condemned the violence in the strongest terms and demanded firmer laws against perpetrators.

“Men who prey on women and children are cowards. Those who target children are beasts who should not be allowed in society. If you have a liking for girls in uniform, buy your wife the uniform and admire her wearing it, leave our children alone,” he said.

He challenged the MPs to formulate laws that impose tougher penalties, saying many offenders get off lightly. “The menace must be eradicated.”

Teso South MP Mary Emaase urged for more funding to support advocacy campaigns, pointing out that current allocations largely benefit counties with women representatives.

Kirinyaga MP Njeri Maina backed the call for a coordinated multi-agency approach and pushed for the establishment of SGBV courts in all magistrates’ courts. She said this must go hand-in-hand with addressing police complacency.

“While we appreciate the gains we have made about women’s participation in society, there is still much more to be done to ensure that our women and girls are protected,” she said.

Samburu West MP Lesuuda Naisula echoed her sentiments and emphasised the need for grassroots education and local involvement. “It must be a collective responsibility for everyone in society to protect women and girls.”

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“As men, we must dignify ourselves and take a firm stand to protect our women and children,” Kilifi North MP Owen Baya said.

In May, the Presidential Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Femicide warned that the country’s lack of a specific legal framework to address femicide is undermining investigations, prosecutions and efforts to prevent such incidents.

The task force said that while incidents of femicide continue to surge, the absence of a legal definition or mechanisms to deal with such crimes is a major setback. They called for urgent legislative reforms to classify femicide as a distinct and aggravated form of murder.

“We have done our desk research, and we have noted there is no legal framework or law on femicide. What is defined in the law is murder, and that is in the penal and criminal procedure code,” the task force said.

“We seek to clearly define what constitutes femicide in the country, and by doing so, we will distinguish femicide from the ordinary murder because femicide is an aggravated form of murder.”

The findings were shared during a public engagement forum in Kwale County, where the group also revealed that sexual abuse cases had increased by eight per cent, from 535 cases in 2023 to 578 in 2024.

The task force estimated that gender-based violence is costing the country approximately Sh40 billion annually.