Nairobi, Kenya – A new report presented to President William Ruto has drawn a direct link between the rise of short-stay rentals and lodgings and Kenya’s worsening gender-based violence (GBV) crisis, recommending mandatory CCTV surveillance in all such facilities as part of a national prevention strategy.
Grim Statistics
The report reveals that 1,639 women were killed between 2022 and 2024, with 77 percent of cases committed by intimate partners or individuals known to the victims. Women aged 30 to 44 are the most affected, while Nairobi, Nakuru, and Meru counties record the highest numbers. Officials caution that the true scale is likely far higher due to widespread underreporting.
Hospitality Sector Under Scrutiny
As staycations and short-stay rentals grow in popularity, particularly in urban centres, the Technical Working Group (TWG) found that some facilities have become hotspots for GBV, enabled by weak regulation and lack of security oversight.
In response, the TWG recommends the mandatory installation of CCTV and security surveillance in all short-stay rentals, lodgings, and commercial accommodation facilities by September 31, 2026. The directive would be jointly implemented by the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife and the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, marking the first time the hospitality sector is formally placed at the centre of Kenya’s GBV prevention strategy.
Systemic Failures Driving the Crisis
Chaired by former Deputy Chief Justice Dr. Nancy Baraza, the TWG concluded that systemic failures are fueling the crisis:
- Femicide is not legally recognised as a distinct crime.
- Justice processes are slow and often retraumatise survivors.
- Families and community elders frequently block cases.
- Fragmented data undermines effective intervention.
- Social media amplifies awareness but also fuels victim-blaming and misinformation.
The report paints a stark national picture: 34 percent of Kenyan women have experienced physical violence since the age of 15, while 13 percent have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime.
Beyond Surveillance: Wider Recommendations
The TWG calls for:
- GBV and femicide to be declared a national crisis.
- Legal recognition of femicide as a specific offence.
- Criminalisation of out-of-court settlements that silence survivors.
- Expansion of survivor support services, including one-stop recovery centres in all counties.
- Stronger mental health and trauma care.
- Economic empowerment programmes for survivors.
- A national GBV and femicide database and real-time dashboard to close data gaps.
- Regulation of digital spaces to protect survivors.
- Establishment of a National GBV and Femicide Fund and ring-fenced county budgets to guarantee sustained financing.
A Call to Action
In a pointed message to policymakers and the public, the TWG stressed that GBV and femicide are not private family matters but violations of constitutional rights and an escalating threat across homes, online spaces, and even weekend getaways.
As Kenya embraces staycations as part of its domestic tourism boom, the report signals a clear shift: safety, accountability, and survivor protection must now be built into every booking.
