CCTV in lodgings, chemical castration: Inside proposals by GBV Taskforce

The 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey by the Kenya National showed that 34 per cent of women in Kenya experience physical violence, relative to 27 per cent of men.

On the other hand, 13 per cent of women were found to have experienced sexual violence at some point in their lives, with men reporting a lower figure of 7 per cent.

In 2024, Kenya experienced an unprecedented surge in femicide, which refers to intentional killings of women and girls committed for gender-related factors. 

This prompted President William Ruto to commission a technical working group on gender-based violence including femicide.

Chaired by former Deputy Chief Justice Nancy Baraza, the task force has completed a report on the state of GBV, including femicide in Kenya, highlighting the pain points and recommendations to curb the menace. 

The state of GBV and femicide

Presented to President Ruto on Monday, the report outlined the enabling factors contributing to GBV in Kenya, and gaps in the legal justice system that have crippled the eradication of GBV including femicide. Here, women aged 30–44 years are most affected by femicide. 

The Baraza-led task force found that violence normalized as a disciplinary or corrective tool in society, a concept perpetuated by social-cultural factors.

Due to this normalization, violence is considered a form of corrective measure in intimate and familial relationships. 

“This patriarchal socialisation is amplified through culture among the young boys upon initiation ceremonies,” the taskforce noted. 

There is also a grave concern on GBV in family settings and how familial relations hinder access to justice for victims.

This obstruction was found to be particularly prevalent in Kisii County, where 70 per cent of incest cases are withdrawn due to pressure from family members. 

Due to widespread use of technology, new forms of violence are emerging including Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV). 

Interventions to tackle GBV 

From the findings, the Baraza-led task force has recommended interventions including legal and policy reforms and the creation of community accountability. 

The report proposes citizen responsibility to curb GBV, where the public is mandated to report GBV cases. Failure to report amounts to an offence with penalties. 

Also, if the recommendations of the technical group are adopted, there will be a mandatory requirement to install CCTV cameras in all short stay rentals, lodgings and commercial accommodation facilities. 

In a recommendation that has already sparked social discussions, the report submitted to Ruto advocates for use of chemical castration a punishment to sexual offenders. The chemical castration will apply to both male and female child sex offenders and those that abuse persons living with disabilities. 

Under this framework, marital rape will be declared an offence under the Sexual Offences Act (Cap. 63A). 

The group has proposed amendment of the Sexual Offences Act to criminalize femicide and provide a 6-month timeline for the hearing and determination of GBV cases and a mandatory compensation to survivors.

If these recommendations are adopted, Kenya will introduce a national sex offender registry and a notification system for repeat GBV offenders, which will be made accessible to the public.

Under this framework, interference in GBV cases will be a criminal offence. This means those found participating in family- or clan-led settlements and the coercion of survivors to withdraw complaints will be prosecuted. 

To deal with TFGBV, the group says revenge porn, sextortion, doxing, and cyber harassment with sexual intent should be criminalized. 

The team has also advocated for the strengthening of sexual harassment policies at the workplace and called on the Techers Service Commission to track the implementation of disciplinary measures against persons convicted of GBV.