Written by Jemimah Mawia
Laikipia University
Gender Based Violence (GBV) refers to any harmful act directed against a person because of their gender. It includes physical assault, sexual violence, emotional abuse, economic denial and femicide the killing of women because they are women. While it affects both genders, data consistently shows that women and girls are disproportionately affected.
In Kenya, GBV remains a major public health and security concern. According to the National Police Service and the National Crime Research Centre, 129 women were killed between January and March 2025 alone. In 2024, at least 529 women were killed in what were classified as femicide cases. Reports by Amnesty International Kenya in 2026 indicate that about eight cases of femicide are reported every week.
Data from Africa Uncensored's tracking shows at least 1,069 women have been killed in Kenya between 2016 and 2025. The Nairobi Women's Hospital Gender Violence Recovery Centre reports receiving about 4,000 GBV cases every month. A UN Women study further notes that 40 percent of women in Kenya have experienced emotional, physical or psychological intimate partner violence, and 34 percent of women aged 15-49 have experienced physical violence.
High profile cases in the country illustrate how the menace cuts across social classes. One such case is that of Monica Kimani, a businesswoman who was murdered in her apartment in Nairobi in September 2018. The case, which concluded in 2024 with the conviction of Jowie Irungu, brought national attention to violence against women occurring in private residences and the question of apartment security and justice timelines.
In recent years, other cases have kept the conversation alive. In early 2024, the murders of Starlet Wahu and Rita Waeni in short stay apartments in Nairobi sparked public protests under the #TotalShutDownKE movement. According to the Silencing Women Project by Africa Uncensored, young women aged 18-35 remain the most vulnerable, accounting for over 60 percent of reported femicide cases, while 66 percent of perpetrators presented in court between 2016 and 2024 were also young men aged 18-35.
Data shows that most incidents occur in intimate settings. The National Police Service report presented to the presidential task force in early 2025 indicated that 60 percent of killings of women were committed by family members or intimate partners, and 72 percent occurred inside the home. Men were responsible for 85 percent of the killings reported in the first quarter of 2025.
In response, the government formed a 42-member presidential task force on GBV and femicide in January 2025. Among its proposals were stronger legal recognition of femicide as a distinct crime, faster justice pathways, and an end to informal out-of-court settlements that have been cited as enabling impunity.
Experts argue that prevention requires a multi-sectoral approach. This includes stricter regulation and digital registration in short-stay rentals, improved protection systems for survivors who have previously reported abuse, centralized and transparent data collection, and sustained community education on conflict resolution and gender equality.
While cases like Monica Kimani's may have happened years ago, the patterns they revealed violence in private spaces, delayed justice, and vulnerability of young women - remain relevant to Kenya's current GBV situation.
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