By James Murimi - Reporter
Kenya, 11 June 2026 - President William Ruto has directed the fast-tracking of legal, policy and administrative reforms aimed at tackling the escalating cases of gender-based violence and femicide in the country.
The directive, revealed by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki on Thursday, signals the government's latest push to address growing public concern over the brutal killings of women and other forms of violence that have continued to spark national outrage.
Speaking after a meeting with Gender and Affirmative Action Cabinet Secretary Hanna Cheptumo and senior ministry officials at Harambee House Annex in Nairobi, Prof Kindiki said the Head of State had ordered the speedy implementation of recommendations made by the Presidential Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.
"The President has directed the speeding up of legal, policy and administrative interventions to curb the menace that is threatening the country's socio-economic progress," said the Deputy President.
He said some of the recommendations are already being implemented, while others requiring legislative and policy backing are being expedited through Cabinet and Parliament.
The Deputy President said the government remains committed to reversing the worrying trend of gender-based violence and femicide, which has emerged as one of the country's most pressing social challenges.
"I reaffirm the commitment of the government to make sure we roll back the worrying statistics of gender-based violence and femicide in our country," he said.
Prof Kindiki noted that the administration was deeply concerned by recurring reports of women being killed in brutal circumstances, warning that such incidents were undermining national cohesion and development.
"The government is concerned with the repeated cases and reports of the killing of women in brutal and horrendous circumstances. We take these cases seriously because they are harming our nation-building and the progress we are making in development," he said.
The Deputy President disclosed that recommendations requiring immediate administrative action were already being executed, while proposed legislation and policy measures would soon be submitted to Cabinet before being forwarded to Parliament.
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"There is a need for Cabinet approval for the proposed legislation and policy measures so that we have a government-backed document to be submitted to Parliament. In the meantime, implementation of measures that do not require legislation is ongoing," he said.
The reforms are based on recommendations of the Presidential Technical Working Group established by President Ruto last year following growing concern over the surge in cases of gender-based violence and femicide.
Prof Kindiki said implementation of the report would also support Kenya's efforts to ratify the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, adopted during the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in February 2025.
He called on citizens to play an active role in combating violence against women and children, saying economic development could not thrive in an environment where citizens lived in fear.
"As much as we are pursuing national development goals through better infrastructure, education, roads and healthcare, we also have a responsibility to build a country that is safe for women, men, children and all members of society," he said.
The Deputy President also assured Kenyans that the government was working on fresh measures to curb the rising cases of missing children reported across the country.
Also present at the meeting were Gender and Affirmative Action Principal Secretary Anne Wang'ombe and senior officials from the ministry.