Kenya is facing a harrowing rise in gender-based violence (GBV), with over 7,100 cases reported since September 2023, including 100 documented murders of women since August 2024. The alarming statistics paint a grim picture of escalating violence against women and girls, prompting public outrage and calls for urgent government intervention.
One such survivor is Sarah Wambui, who endured a brutal attack by her husband of 20 years on January 18, 2024.
“He stabbed me 38 times — on my face, my body, even damaging my kidney and liver,” Wambui recounted. After months in the hospital, she was discharged in August. However, her ordeal continues as her attacker remains free and continues to threaten her life.
“Right now, my life is in danger,” she said. “He vowed to finish me, and I’m forced to live in hiding.”
Acting Interior Minister Musalia Mudavadi expressed concern over the escalating violence, highlighting Nairobi County as having the highest number of reported GBV cases, while Samburu and Mandera recorded the lowest.
“There were 100 murders of women from August to November 2024,” Mudavadi said. “The Directorate of Criminal Investigation has completed investigations on these cases, and most are pending before the courts.”
However, frustrations are mounting over the government’s perceived inaction. Two weeks ago, hundreds of Kenyans took to the streets demanding justice and systemic change. The peaceful protest was met with police tear gas and arrests, sparking further anger among demonstrators, women’s organizations, and human rights groups.
Njoki Gachanja, a human rights defender, emphasized that the true scale of violence might be far greater than reported.
“Most reported cases come from low-income areas, where poverty exacerbates violence,” Gachanja said. “But many cases remain undocumented. This is a catastrophe that demands immediate government action.”
According to the Gender Violence Recovery Centre, one in three Kenyan women has experienced sexual violence before the age of 18, and 38% of married women have faced physical abuse.
In response, the government has established a specialized security team tasked with addressing GBV, ensuring the protection of survivors, and expediting justice for victims.
Activists and survivors, however, insist that more needs to be done—not just in investigating cases, but in preventing violence, addressing patriarchal attitudes, and creating a safer environment for women and girls in Kenya.
