Ruto's Taskforce To Engage Pastors, Parents, Schools In Dealing With Femicide
This resolution followed a Cabinet meeting held at State House Nairobi chaired by President William Ruto.
Marvin Chege 
The Cabinet on Tuesday, December 17 approved the establishment of a presidential working group to develop a comprehensive approach to addressing femicide across the country.
This resolution followed a Cabinet meeting held at State House Nairobi chaired by President William Ruto.
"The working group will engage religious leaders, parents, schools, security agencies, and all other stakeholders to identify gaps in law, enforcement, and social values that contribute to this crisis," a memo from the meeting read in part.
The team will be gazetted with clear terms of reference and tasked with delivering actionable recommendations within 90 days.
Thousands protest against increasing violence against women in Kenya on January 27, 2024. /AP
Shocking statistics revealed that 97 women were tragically killed in femicide cases over just 90 days this year. According to government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, another 150 women lost their lives to femicide in 2023.
He emphasized Kenya's commitment to human rights, highlighting its adherence to various international conventions, including the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), among others.
"The government condemns these acts in the strongest of terms and stands in solidarity with the families and friends of the departed. In collaboration with both state and non-state actors, the state is actively working towards addressing these challenges to ensure to all Kenyans their human rights and fundamental freedoms," Mwaura revealed on Tuesday, December 10.
To counter the femicide cases, President Ruto allocated Ksh100 million to the Safe Home, Safe Space Campaign led by women leaders in government institutions.
Ruto who spoke during a press briefing at State House on Wednesday, November 20 revealed that the leaders would raise awareness of the signs of Gender Based Violence (GBV) while informing the public of the safe spaces and avenues where they can get help.
"Matters psychological support and safe spaces for women and children are a priority in my office. Through the women's rights advisor, we are launching a safe home safe space campaign during the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence that will start on November 25, 2024," he remarked.
"Our communities need education on the signs and causes of abuse and resources available to victims," he added.
Protests were held on December 10 in the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) to demonstrate the rising femicide cases. However, protesters were roughed up and arrested by what appeared to be plainclothes police officers.
This came just days after Kenya was ranked among 50 countries in sub-Saharan Africa whose administrations have oppressed human rights in the past year.
The annual report titled People Power Under Attack 2024, by global civil society organisation CIVICUS, stated that four countries, including Kenya, were downgraded due to their oppressive nature.
Kenya's rating was downgraded from obstructed to repressed following the police brutality witnessed during the Gen Z protests that rocked the nation in mid-2024.
"The government’s violent response caused the deaths of at least 60 unarmed protesters and police arrested at least 1,000 people," the report read in part, adding "Abductions of protesters and online supporters of the protests have continued months after the protests, as security forces hunt down those they suspect of involvement, creating a chilling effect on civic freedoms."
