Ruto Establishes 42-Member Committee to Combat Gender Violence, Femicide

President William Ruto has appointed a 42-member Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) to fight the rising gender-based violence and femicide. 

According to a Gazette Notice issued on Friday, January 10, the Head of State tapped Dr Nancy Baraza to head the committee. Ruto also appointed the Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo and crime and investigative journalist Franklin Wallah as members of the committee.

Others include Linah Jebii Kilimo, who served as the Member of Parliament for Marakwet East and held the position of Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Cooperative Development and Marketing, and Dr Sam Thenya, the founder of the Nairobi Women’s Hospital. 

Ruto cited the increased cases of GBV and femicide that, according to the president, have continued to cause immense physical, emotional, and economic harm to individuals, families, and communities and existing gaps in prevention, response, investigations, prosecution, data management, and survivor support systems. 

The Committee has been tasked with the responsibilities of assessing, reviewing, and recommending measures to strengthen the institutional, legal, and policy response to GBV and femicide in the country.

The group will focus on identifying trends, strengthening legal frameworks, and proposing actionable measures to combat the pervasive issue. 

One of the core mandates of the working group is to “identify trends, hotspots, and causes contributing to GBV and femicide,” the Gazette Notice states. This involves conducting community engagements to gather insights from affected populations and proposing amendments to strengthen laws and improve enforcement mechanisms. 

The group is also tasked with examining gaps in resource allocation, operational effectiveness, and training levels within institutions managing GBV-related cases. 

A key focus of the group is the legislative review, as they are charged with “analysing the adequacy of current legal and policy frameworks in addressing GBV and femicide.” Proposed amendments are expected to bolster legal protections, close legislative loopholes, and ensure robust enforcement.

In order to be holistic, the Committee will evaluate the influence of social media on GBV cases. It aims to assess how online platforms shape awareness, amplify voices, and potentially impact policy-making. 

“Identifying psychological issues related to the commission of crimes” and addressing socioeconomic challenges are integral to the group’s mandate. Recommendations are expected to include strategies for strengthening family ties and fostering harmonious coexistence to mitigate domestic disputes. 

In its operations, the working group is empowered to co-opt experts, conduct public hearings, and examine official reports or case findings. Collaboration with the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) is mandated to ensure effective implementation. State entities have been directed to provide all necessary support and cooperation to facilitate the group’s work. 

The group will report to the Deputy President through the Principal Secretary for Gender, who will chair an oversight committee comprising Principal Secretaries from various state departments.

The final report is expected within 90 days, with provisions for an extension if necessary. The Secretariat, based at the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, will coordinate the group’s activities, marking a significant step towards comprehensive solutions to GBV and femicide.

The committee has four Joint Secretaries namely, Caroline Jerono Kibiwott, Jessica Achieng Omundo, Geoffrey Rotich, and Baldwin Anyiga. Ruto named Rosemary Muriungi, Kepha Onyiso, and Philomena Loitarengan as members of the Secretariat.