The cabinet has approved the establishment of a presidential working group to develop a comprehensive approach to addressing femicide.
In a statement on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, State House said the working group will engage religious leaders, parents, schools, security agencies, and all other stakeholders to identify gaps in law, enforcement, and social values that contribute to this crisis.
“The team will be gazetted with clear terms of reference and tasked with delivering actionable recommendations within 90 days,” the statement read in part.
“The Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, which was chaired by President William Ruto and is the last for this year, also approved the Assumption of Office of President and Transition of Executive Authority Bill, 2024. The proposed law aims to seal gaps and ensure smoother and more unified presidential transitions in Kenya.”
Anti-femicide protestors
This comes moments after human rights defenders faulted the use of excessive force by the police in the recent anti-femicide protest in Nairobi.
In a joint statement on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ Kenya), the Law Society of Kenya, and the Independent Medico-Legal Unit acknowledge the transfer of key commanding officers involved in the unlawful use of force during the December 10, 2024, International Human Rights Day march.
However, the human rights defender noted that transferring the officers is not enough since it does not address systemic issues.
“On 16 December 2024, the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, announced the transfer of Nairobi Central Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) Doris Mugambi, SSP, to Vigilance House and Nairobi Central Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Stephen Okal to Mulot. In their place, former BuruBuru Deputy OCPD Stephen Okal, SSP, has been appointed as the new Nairobi Central OCPD, while CI Talaam will now serve as the new Central OCS.
“While this is a step toward accountability, it falls far short of addressing the systemic issues that enable such abuses; transferring officers is not enough; meaningful reforms are urgently needed to prevent such violations. We call on the police Inspector General to overhaul police operations and prioritize peaceful engagement with protestors,” reads part of the joint statement.
They further stated that they are ready to engage with the relevant authorities in crafting reforms that uphold human rights.
“We stand ready to engage the National Police Service and the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government in crafting practical and actionable reforms that uphold the constitutional rights of all Kenyans. The right to peaceful assembly must be respected, protected, and facilitated, not violently repressed,” reads part of the joint statement.
The Human Rights Defenders demanded criminal accountability and responsibility from the National Police Service and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), adding that they must ensure criminal charges are brought against all officers who used unlawful force during the march.
