The DP said action has already been taken as recommended by the Presidential Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide that was established by President Ruto last year as more extensive measures are fast-tracked through Cabinet and Parliament.
“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,” DP stated.
The Second in Command on Thursday at Harambee House Annex in Nairobi, engaged Gender and Affirmative Action Cabinet Secretary Hanna Cheptumo and senior Ministry officials on the status of the implementation of the report by the Working Group.
The Deputy President said the President has directed speeding up of legal, policy and administrative interventions to curb the menace that is threatening the country’s socio-economic progress.
He assured Kenyans that all hands are on deck to implement preventive measures as instructed by the Head of State.
“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 noted.
Needed measures, DP reiterated, are being pursued through multiple ways including immediate administrative action, Cabinet policies and legislative interventions.
“We are taking the recommendations of the technical working group seriously. The implementation is on course on the issues that do not require Cabinet or Parliament approval,” he reaffirmed.
The DP directed the CS to quickly present policies and proposed legislation for approval by the Cabinet.
“There is a need for Cabinet approval for the proposed legislation or policy so we have a government-backed document to be submitted to Parliament. In the meantime, we are implementing measures that do not require legislation and policy,” DP stated.
Prof. Kindiki said the implementation of the report will aid in the fast-tracking the ratification of the Africa-Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls that was adopted during the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in February, 2025.
He said the country must be safe for all members of society calling on all citizens to be champions against the vices.
“As much as we are pursuing national development goals of putting up better infrastructure for better education, roads, and health, we have a bigger role to put together a country that is safe for everyone: men, women, children and all members of the society.
The Deputy President also assured that the government is working on measures to curb the rising cases of missing children.
Also in attendance were Gender and Affirmative Action Principal Secretary Anne Wang’ombe and senior Ministry officers.
