The National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) has raised alarm over the slow pace at which sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) cases are being handled in Nyeri County, accusing the Judiciary of delaying justice for victims.

Speaking in Nyeri, NGEC Commissioner Margaret Karungaru expressed concern over the growing number of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) cases still pending in court.

She said that at least 20 such cases, ranging from defilement to sodomy, and rape, remain unresolved in the county in 2025 alone.

“We are currently following up on a number of serious cases, including one involving a seven-year-old girl who was allegedly defiled by a 70-year-old priest in 2024,” said Dr Karungaru.

“That child has not received justice to date. The priest was her custodian, and yet the case continues to drag on. We all know that justice delayed is justice denied.”

She urged the Judiciary and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) to expedite the cases to ensure that victims receive timely justice.

“Our mandate as NGEC is to safeguard the rights of children, women, men, and marginalized groups. We are calling on all justice system stakeholders to act swiftly in ensuring justice is served,” she added.

Dr Karungaru was speaking during a stakeholders’ forum held in Nyeri town to address the growing cases of GBV and SGBV in the region.

The forum brought together government officials, civil society, local administrators, and law enforcement, and was led by Nyeri Central Deputy County Commissioner (DCC), Mr Ngunyi Maina.

Gender rights activist Ms Waruguru Kiai, who also attended the forum, emphasized the need to empower grassroots officers such as chiefs and their assistants, who are often first responders to SGBV cases.

“We have resolved to conduct special training for our chiefs and assistant chiefs to better equip them to handle these sensitive cases at the community level,” she said.

“Too often, perpetrators go unpunished after negotiating with victims' families. This denies justice to our children.”

She further highlighted the need to train police officers, who are the second responders in the chain, on how to handle victims and preserve evidence.

“We are losing critical evidence at the reporting desk, which severely impacts the chances of securing convictions in court. Proper handling of evidence is crucial if we are to break the cycle of impunity,” Ms Kiai said.

The forum also recommended integrating SGBV awareness into the education curriculum to help children understand their rights and how to protect themselves.

“Do our communities even know where to report these cases?” she asked. 

“Or are they helping perpetrators escape justice by remaining silent?”

Meanwhile, a high-profile defilement and murder case in Nyeri is still unfolding.

Read: Outrage in Nyeri as residents demand justice for murdered girl

On Thursday, the High Court in Nyeri granted the prime suspect in the case--a 39-year-old Nicholas Julius Macharia--46 days in prison remand to ‘reflect’ on his plea after he confessed to murdering a seven-year-old girl.

Justice Kizito Magare, who is presiding over the case, said Mr Macharia had pleaded guilty to the murder of Tamara Blessing Kabura, which carries a mandatory death sentence under Kenyan Law.

“The accused has pleaded guilty to the charge. The sentence for this plea is death. However, before the court proceeds to sentencing, he will be given time to reflect while in custody,” ruled Justice Magare.

“The matter will be mentioned again on July 29, 2025, when the court will retake the plea and confirm the accused understands the gravity of the sentence.”

According to court documents, the crime occurred on May 24, 2025, in the Witemere area of Nyeri Township.

In response to the public outcry following Tamara’s death, Nyeri Central DCC Mr Ngunyi Maina said the local administration has taken steps to restore community trust and strengthen security structures.

“As the security team, we recently visited Witemere and met with residents to address the incident. We have since disbanded the Nyumba Kumi elder unit in that area and allowed the community to appoint a new team,” he said.

“This will help improve the local mechanisms for reporting and preventing such heinous acts.”

The National Gender and Equality Commission and its partners say they will continue to push for reforms, awareness, and faster justice delivery as they work to combat the rising tide of gender-based violence in the region.