Amnesty Kenya urges Gender Ministry to act on GBV taskforce report

Amnesty International Kenya Executive Director Irũngũ Houghton/FILE

Amnesty International Kenya has called on the Ministry of Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage to urgently submit a Cabinet memorandum to implement the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Taskforce report, warning that delays are worsening the country’s femicide crisis.

In an open letter to Cabinet Secretary Hanna Cheptumo, Amnesty Kenya said 30 days have passed since President William Ruto set a deadline for the memorandum, but no submission has been made.

The organisation described the delay as unacceptable and urged immediate action to operationalise a national emergency strategy to protect women.

“30 days have lapsed, and the Gender Cabinet Secretary is yet to present the Cabinet Memo to implement the GBV Taskforce report. We’ve written to her office reminding her of her obligation to prioritise this instrument and operationalise a national emergency response to stop the rising femicide crisis in Kenya. No more delays,” Amnesty stated.

The GBV Taskforce, chaired by former Deputy Chief Justice Nancy Baraza, submitted its recommendations seven months ago to Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, outlining urgent measures to address violence against women.

The memorandum is expected to advance the recommendations, including declaring femicide a national crisis, mainstreaming gender-responsive budgeting across government, and supporting legal reforms to recognise femicide as a standalone offence in the Penal Code.

Amnesty Kenya cited findings from a recent report by Africa Uncensored and Africa Data Hub, “Counting the Cost: A Decade of Femicide in Kenya (2016–2025),” which show that homes remain the most dangerous spaces for women.

The report found that more than 70 per cent of femicides occur in the home, mostly perpetrated by intimate partners, with victims often stabbed (23 per cent) or strangled (9 per cent).

It also noted that response times by police, prosecutors and the judiciary remain slow, with cases taking an average of four years to conclude in counties including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kiambu, Garissa and Kericho.

“The national crisis does not only affect women and girls, as the horrendous attack on Umoja resident Steve Godia demonstrates,” the letter said, referring to a recent incident in which a woman attacked a male partner, and underscoring the need for systemic reforms.

Amnesty Kenya urged the Cabinet Secretary to act swiftly, warning that prolonged inaction undermines public confidence and the safety of women nationwide.

The organisation also called for dedicated public funding for awareness campaigns and stronger judicial support to fast-track GBV cases.

“Given the urgency of the findings, the nation urges you to prioritise the responsibility bestowed on you by your appointing authority and the people of Kenya and submit the memorandum to the Cabinet without further delay,” the statement concluded.