By Ken Muthomi - Reporter
Kenya, May 18, 2026 - The Ministry of Gender, Culture, and Children Services has ordered the activation of Gender based violence and child protection response plans to prevent cases of femicide and violence against children in the country.
In a statement, the ministry’s Cabinet Secretary Hanna Wendot confirmed that the county director of Gender has been directed to spearhead the GBV response plans. On the other hand, child protection actors have been urged to strengthen safeguarding and referral systems.
The move comes amid a surge in cases of gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide across the country, alongside increasing incidents of violence and abuse against children reported in recent months.
Recent incidents include the case of a woman who was allegedly set ablaze over her political stance, a 25-year-old woman who was stabbed in public in Kilimani, and a Form Three student in Nyamira who was allegedly stabbed by her boyfriend.
The CS has said that security agencies, especially the National Police Service (NPS) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), should fast-track investigations into these incidents swiftly and take the necessary legal action against any individual who was involved.
The National Council of the Administration of Justice, as well as the Judiciary, have been urged to ensure that they prioritise GBV and child protection cases to ensure that victims have access to timely justice.
Wendot has further called upon the Council of Governors to allocate adequate county budgets for GBV prevention, child protection, and response services. Media practitioners have been encouraged to uphold ethical reporting as well as child safeguarding standards.
“No child should be subjected to violence, humiliation, exploitation, abandonment, fear, or any condition that renders them in need of care and protection as defined under Section 144 of the Children Act. 2022. Similarly, no person should live in fear of violence, abuse, or discrimination,” the CS stated.
“The Government remains committed to strengthening institutional coordination, safeguarding systems, survivor protection mechanisms, and justice processes to ensure that every child,” she added.
In addition to rejecting all forms of violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation, humiliation, and harmful conduct in society, members of the public have been encouraged to get in touch with the relevant authorities in case they encounter similar incidents.
The Ministry has assured that it will remain firm in advocating for swift legal and justice response, enhancing survivor support and protection infrastructure, public awareness, accountability, and institutional coordination to curb GBV and child mistreatment.
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