Lobby groups are calling for femicide to be listed as a specific crime under the Penal Code.
According to the human rights groups, this move would help improve how the justice system handles cases where women are killed because of their gender.
The call comes after worrying statistics showed that 129 women were killed in Kenya between January and March 2025.
In 2024, the country recorded 579 femicide deaths. The data was released by the National Police Service and the National Crime Research Center on April 9, 2025.
“This crisis shows that the state is failing to protect women and punish those responsible,” The lobby groups in a joint statement said.
“Police officers often ignore cases, blame victims, or even work with the perpetrators. Women living in informal settlements and rural areas are the most at risk.”
The groups pointed out that the Kenyan government has already set up a taskforce to address rising cases of femicide and gender-based violence (GBV), but more action is needed.
Under international law and the Kenyan Constitution, the government is required to prevent GBV, protect victims, investigate crimes, and bring suspects to justice.
However, the human rights bodies says that police often mishandle such cases, despite the existence of laws like the Sexual Offences Act and the Protection Against Domestic Violence Act.
The commission is now pushing for special funding to be set aside for forensic investigations and for training police officers on how to properly handle evidence in GBV cases.
They also urge the government to set up a dedicated prosecution unit to deal with GBV cases.
The goal is to speed up trials, reduce delays, and minimize corruption in the justice process.
“The National Police Service must release regular reports on femicide cases, showing how many were reported, how many were investigated, arrests made, and convictions secured.
This will help promote accountability,” lobby groups said.
The commission further said that every police station should offer trauma counseling services for survivors of GBV.
At the same time, police officers should be given mental health support to help them cope with the emotional impact of handling such difficult cases.
They say these changes are needed urgently to protect women’s lives and restore public trust in the justice system.
