President Ruto extends term of GBV technical working group by 60 days

In a Gazette notice dated April 25, the Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, announced that the taskforce will remain in office until June 8, 2025.

“It is notified for the general information of the public that His Excellency Hon. William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, has extended the term of the Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence (GBV), including femicide, for a period of sixty (60) days, with effect from April 9, 2025, up to June 8, 2025,” the notice reads in part.

In January, President William Ruto appointed the 35-member team to tackle the rising cases of GBV and femicide.

According to a Gazette notice issued on January 10, President Ruto had appointed former Deputy Chief Justice Nancy Baraza as the chairperson of the committee.

Other members include Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo and crime and investigative journalist Franklin Wallah.

Also appointed were Linah Jebii Kilimo, former Member of Parliament for Marakwet East and former Assistant Minister for Cooperative Development and Marketing, and Dr Sam Thenya, founder of the Nairobi Women's Hospital.

President Ruto then cited the increasing cases of GBV and femicide, which continue to cause immense physical, emotional, and economic harm to individuals, families, and communities.

He also highlighted existing gaps in prevention, response, investigations, prosecution, data management, and survivor support systems.

The committee is tasked with assessing, reviewing, and recommending measures to strengthen Kenya’s institutional, legal, and policy responses to GBV and femicide.

Its mandate includes identifying trends, hotspots, and causes contributing to GBV and femicide through community engagements and proposing amendments to strengthen laws and 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 working group is legislative review, analysing the adequacy of current legal and policy frameworks and proposing amendments to close loopholes, bolster protections, and ensure robust enforcement.

Additionally, the committee will evaluate the role of social media in GBV cases, assessing how online platforms influence awareness, amplify voices, and potentially impact policy-making.

The final report from the committee was initially 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.

The committee’s Joint Secretaries are Caroline Jerono Kibiwott, Jessica Achieng Omundo, Geoffrey Rotich, and Baldwin Anyiga, while Rosemary Muriungi, Kepha Onyiso, and Philomena Loitarengan serve as members of the Secretariat.