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Taking to her X account on Thursday, Karua noted that the conclusion of the nearly eight-year murder trial reaffirmed the urgent need for criminal justice agencies to prioritise cases involving violence against women, noting that while the prosecution showed determination, justice should not take so long to be delivered
Addressing a Linda Mwananchi rally in Mosocho, Kitutu Chache South Constituency, on Friday, Odhiambo said the continued rise in cases of violence against women and children showed that existing interventions were not delivering the desired results.
Kindiki assured the National Gender and Equality Commission of continued government backing, saying its independence and role in promoting fairness will be protected and strengthened.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki says Kenya is pushing reforms to strengthen action on gender-based violence and femicide. The State is implementing recommendations already underway, while further proposals move through Cabinet approval and Parliament for legal backing.
A major concern raised during the demonstrations was the government's failure to act on recommendations contained in the report of the Presidential Technical Working Group on Gender Based Violence (GBV), including Femicide.
Speaking on Monday, she defended ongoing government interventions such as safe houses and awareness funding while urging stronger systems, legislation, and societal responsibility, emphasising that GBV is not a women-only issue but a national crisis.
Of the 125 cases currently being handled, 98 have already been taken to court, accounting for 78.4 per cent of the total. The remaining 27 cases are still under investigation.
In a statement released on Thursday, the media women’s body said women were increasingly being targeted, abused and killed in homes and communities that should ordinarily guarantee safety and protection.
Beyond the economic debate, the former Interior boss also turned attention to security, saying the situation in different parts of the country is getting worse and needs urgent attention from authorities.
NGEC warned that the persistence of violence against women and children highlighted serious weaknesses in institutional response systems, coordination among agencies and protection mechanisms across the country.
Women’s rights organisations in Kenya have issued a 40-day ultimatum to the government to declare gender-based violence and femicide a national crisis, citing weekly femicide reports and urging enforcement of existing laws and specialist response.
Speaking on Radio Generation on Tuesday, Yambo said Kenya is increasingly normalizing gender-based violence, describing femicide as a national crisis driven by misogyny, harmful cultural practices and failures within the justice system.
LSK said it was “deeply concerned and gravely disturbed by the recent spate of reported cases of femicide, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and other forms of gender-based violence across the country,” warning that women and girls were losing their lives in “tragic and disturbing circumstances.”
According to FIDA Kenya, the current legal framework makes it difficult for authorities to properly investigate, monitor and prevent femicide cases. The organisation also said the lack of a distinct legal definition has affected data collection and delayed justice for victims and their families.
The National Gender and Equality Commission says it is concerned about killings affecting women and girls in Kitui County. In a meeting with county officials and the Deputy County Commissioner, NGEC urged stronger prevention and faster reporting.
Activists navigating these risks face shrinking civic spaces, targeted abductions, and systemic impunity, particularly in law enforcement and government offices.
Analysis of the data which is contained in the Technical Working group of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), including the Femicide report, reveals that women aged 30–44 bear the brunt of these killings, largely because intimate partner violence remains a leading cause.
The new law applies to murders stemming from hatred, domination, discrimination, or attempts to limit a woman’s freedom, including cases following a breakup. Police figures show that last year, 116 women were killed in Italy, with 106 deaths driven by gender-based motives. Under the new law, these cases will now be separately recorded and trigger automatic life sentences.
The brutal killings of 15-year-old Lara Gutierrez, and Morena Verdi and Brenda del Castillo, who were both 20, were livestreamed on social media.
She called on Kenyans to reject the normalization of abuse and to challenge systems that allow perpetrators to evade justice.