Nairobi, Kenya – Kenya is grappling with an unprecedented surge in gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide, with 2024 recording the highest annual toll on record. According to data verified by Africa Censored, at least 170 women were murdered in 2024, marking a 79% rise compared to 2023.
The alarming figures prompted President William Ruto to establish a 42-member Technical Working Group on GBV and Femicide in January 2025, chaired by former Deputy Chief Justice Nancy Baraza. After nationwide consultations across all 47 counties, the task force presented its findings to the President on January 26, 2026.
Key Findings
The report analyzed over 930 female murders since 2016, drawing from court records and media reports. Among its revelations:
- Intimate partners (husbands or boyfriends) accounted for 70% of femicide cases in 2024.
- Women aged 18–35 were the most vulnerable, representing more than half of all victims.
- Convictions rose by 118% in 2024, the highest level since 2018, with average sentences increasing from 20 years to 23 years.
- Justice delays remain severe, with cases taking an average of 4 years from filing to verdict.
The report also highlighted the scale of GBV, noting that the Nairobi Women’s Hospital Gender Violence Recovery Center handled an average of 4,000 GBV cases monthly in 2024.
Controversial Recommendation: Chemical Castration
One of the most debated proposals in the report is the introduction of chemical castration for convicted repeat rapists. The method, which uses drugs to suppress sex hormone production and reduce libido, has been adopted in countries such as South Korea, Pakistan, Ukraine, and several U.S. states.
However, experts warn of serious ethical, medical, and financial implications:
- Health risks include osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, depression, and metabolic disorders.
- Costs in Kenya range from Ksh. 9,000 to 39,000 per injection, requiring repeated doses.
- Critics argue it does not address underlying psychological or social drivers of violent behavior.
- Human rights defenders caution against violating the dignity of offenders, even when incarcerated.
Legal and Policy Reforms Proposed
The task force has called for sweeping reforms, including:
- Amending the Sexual Offences Act to remove judicial discretion in sentencing for aggravated sexual offences and repeat offenders.
- Recognizing femicide as a distinct crime under the Penal Code to strengthen accountability and improve data tracking.
- A formal declaration of GBV and femicide as a national crisis, elevating the issue to the highest level of government priority.
Conclusion
Kenya’s femicide crisis is systemic, under-reported, and driven by entrenched power imbalances. While the task force’s recommendations aim to deliver tougher legal consequences, the proposal of chemical castration has sparked controversy and could polarize public opinion.
What remains clear is that urgent, coordinated reforms are needed to protect women and girls, restore public confidence in the justice system, and confront the scourge of gender-based violence before it deepens further.
