Alarm as Nairobi records most cases of gender-based violence in the country

A recent report by the National Council of Administration of Justice (NCAJ) has revealed that Nairobi is leading in Kenya nation in cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).

The 2023-24 findings highlight Nairobi as the epicentre of SGBV, recording an alarming 2,800 cases in the period under review, placing it far ahead of other counties in reported incidents.

The council's report shows Kiambu follows with 1,871 cases, while other affected counties include Meru with 1,640 cases, Bungoma with 1,486, Nakuru with 1,357, Kilifi with 1,024, and Machakos reporting 1,096 cases.

Counties with the fewest incidents reported include Mandera and Samburu, with 98 and 97 cases, respectively.

The report aligns with a rise in femicide incidents, particularly within Nairobi, many of which are attributed to intimate partner violence.

Director of the Coalition of Grassroots Human Rights Defenders Rachel Mwikali raised concerns over the trend, urging the government to declare femicide a national disaster.

"Dealing with rising femicide cases, particularly by intimate partners, should trigger a robust response from all the government apparatus," she said, adding that such a declaration would mobilise resources to address the issue effectively.

The most recent police statistics underscore the severity of the crisis, revealing that 97 women have lost their lives in the last 90 days.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat acknowledged the urgency of the situation.

"This troubling trend highlights the urgent need for focused actions and collaborations to tackle the widespread problem of gender-based violence in our society," Mr Lagat said.

Despite these alarming statistics, the NCAJ report highlights some progress, with over 30,877 of the 32,909 cases filed now resolved.

Nairobi leads in case resolution, with 2,355 cases marked as completed, followed by Kiambu (1,676), Nakuru (1,499), and Bungoma (1,445).

In efforts to tackle SGBV effectively, the council convened its inaugural national conference on SGBV last October, focusing on "survivor-centred interventions" and exploring ways to reduce case processing bottlenecks.

The conference also addressed the socioeconomic impact of SGBV and discussed leveraging technology and international best practices in the fight against it.

The NCAJ's initiatives include the development of county-specific SGBV laws and policies in counties such as Nairobi, Taita Taveta, Meru, and Kakamega.

Additionally, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has introduced draft guidelines for gender-responsive grievance mechanisms as part of a broader action plan on business and human rights.

Human rights organisations continue to pressure the government to adopt a more comprehensive approach to addressing femicide and gender-based violence across the nation, ensuring that SGBV cases are treated as violations of fundamental human rights, including the right to life, dignity, and protection from degrading treatment.