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"id": 1566062,
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Kingi",
"speaker_title": "The Speaker",
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"content": " Thank you, hon. Cabinet Secretary. I will now allow the Senator for Kisumu County, Sen. (Prof.) Tom Ojienda, SC to ask Question No.076. Hon. Senator, you may proceed."
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"id": 1566063,
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"text_counter": 113,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Kingi",
"speaker_title": "The Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": "The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
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"speaker": null,
"content": "Question No.076"
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"text_counter": 115,
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"content": "CAUSES OF RECENT SURGE IN GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND ENFORCEMENT OF RELATED LAWS"
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{
"id": 1566066,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1566066/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. (Prof.) Tom Odhiambo Ojienda, SC",
"speaker_title": "",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I beg to ask the Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture and Arts and Heritage the following Question- (a) What factors have been identified as the major causes of the recent surge in Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases, including the alarming rise in femicide incidents, which reached at least 170 cases in 2024 (a 79 per cent increase compared to 2023)? (b) What institutional challenges currently hinder the effective enforcement of GBV-related laws and what systemic reforms are being implemented to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement agencies and the Judiciary in handling GBV and femicide cases? (c) Could the Cabinet Secretary provide data on the prosecution and conviction rates for GBV and femicide cases in Kenya over the past five years, and indicate whether there are plans to establish GBV courts to expedite and sensitively handle these cases? (d) What is the current status of the implementation of the Protection Against Domestic Violence Act and the National Policy on Prevention and Response to GBV, and could the Cabinet Secretary provide an audit evaluation of their effectiveness? (e) Could the Cabinet Secretary provide a status report on the availability, accessibility and distribution of safe shelters, psychosocial support services and legal-aid mechanisms for GBV survivors across the 47 countries?"
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"id": 1566067,
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "The Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture, the Arts & Heritage (",
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"content": "Hon. Hannah Cheptumo): Thank you, honourable Speaker, and the Member for that question. I beg to reply. (a) The recent surge in gender-based violence and femicide in Kenya has escalated into a national crisis, prompting urgent calls for comprehensive action. Between August and October, 2024 alone, at least, 97 women were killed in gender-related murders. Addressing this multifaceted crisis requires a concerted effort to challenge societal norms, strengthen legal frameworks and provide comprehensive support to survivors. Only through systemic change and sustained commitment can Kenya hope to reverse the rising tide of GBV and femicide. Increased cases of GBV and femicide are driven by a complex mix of social, economic, cultural, legal and institutional factors. Below are the contributors- (i) Socio-economic factors: We live in a patriarchal society and patriarchal norms and gender inequality provide societies that prioritize male dominance and control over women often normalize violence. Harmful traditional practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation contribute to GBV and stigma. Silence around GBV cultural taboos often prevent survivors from speaking out or seeking help. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
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{
"id": 1566068,
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"text_counter": 118,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "The Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture, the Arts & Heritage (",
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"content": "(ii) Economic factors: Poverty and unemployment. Financial stress can increase household tensions leading to violence. Women in economically dependent positions are more vulnerable. An economic disempowerment of women limits women's ability to leave abusive relationships or report violence. (iii) Legal and institutional gaps: Weak enforcement of GBV laws. Perpetrators often go unpunished due to corruption, poor policing or lack of evidence, inadequate protection mechanisms, lack of shelters, limited legal aid and psychosocial support services, which are wanting. (iv) Slow justice systems: Survivors may be discouraged from pursuing cases due to delays or traumatizing processes. (v) Political and conflict-related factors: Insecurity and conflict. During war or political unrest, GBV is often used as a weapon or becomes more prevalent due to breakdown of law and order and inadequate political support in some devolved units. (vi) Media technology: There is normalization of violence in the media. Exposure to violent content can desensitize audiences or perpetuate harmful gender norms. (vii) Cyberbullying and online harassment: Social media has become a new frontier for GBV, especially against women in public life. (viii) Alcohol and substance abuse: Increased use of alcohol and drug abuse are linked to impulsivity and aggression, often escalating violent behavior at homes and in public spaces. (b) Mr. Speaker, Sir, GBV remains a pervasive human rights issue in Kenya, affecting women, men and children across all socioeconomic backgrounds. Despite the existence of progressive laws such as the Sexual Offenses Act, 2006, the Protection Against Domestic Violence Act, 2015 and various provisions in the Constitution of Kenya, the enforcement of these legal frameworks continues to face significant obstacles. The institutional challenges undermine efforts to protect survivors, hold perpetrators accountable and deter future incidents of GBV. Addressing these systemic issues is crucial for achieving justice and fostering a society free from violence and discrimination. Institutional challenges include, and I emphasize- (i) Weak coordination among Government agencies. There is often a lack of coordination between key factors such as the police, judiciary, health services and social services. This fragmentation results in inconsistent responses and delays in case processing and inadequate survivor support. (ii) Inadequate capacity and training of law enforcement officers. Many police officers, prosecutors and judicial officers lack specialized training in handling GBV cases. This leads to mishandling of evidence, insensitive treatment of survivors and poor case outcomes. (iii) Limited resources and infrastructure. Critical institutions such as police stations, gender desks, shelters and forensic labs are under-resourced. This limits their ability to respond effectively to GBV incidents, especially in rural and marginalized areas. (iv) Corruption and impunity. Corruption within the justice system often leads to their dismissal or manipulation of these cases. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1566069,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1566069/?format=api",
"text_counter": 119,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "The Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture, the Arts & Heritage (",
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"content": "(v) Perpetrators may bribe officials to avoid prosecution while survivors may be coerced to withdrawing the cases. (vi) Backlog and delays in the judicial system. Kenya's courts are overwhelmed with a backlog of cases leading to significant delays in the resolution of these matters. Survivors often lose hope or drop cases due to the prolonged wait for justice. (vii) Cultural and social norms within institutions. Institutional personnel may hold patriarchal or victim-blaming attitudes, which influence their willingness to act decisively on GBV cases. Such norms often result in the trivialization or dismissal of complaints. (viii) Poor data management and case tracking. There is no comprehensive centralized system for collecting and managing GBV data across institutions. This hampers evidence-based policymaking and the monitoring of enforcement effectiveness. (ix) Inadequate survivor-centered approaches: Many institutions do not prioritize the safety, dignity, and the confidentiality of GBV survivors. This deters survivors from reporting and engaging with formal systems. Mr. Speaker, Sir, my Ministry, in collaboration with key stakeholders is undertaking significant systemic reforms to enhance the capacity of law enforcement agencies and the Judiciary in handling femicide cases. These efforts aim to address systemic challenges and ensure justice for survivors. (x) The establishment of specialized gender-based violence courts. In 2023, the Kenyan Judiciary launched at least five specialized sexual and gender-based violence special courts in regions, including Shanzu, Siaya, Kisumu, Kibera, and Makadara. These courts are designed to expedite GBV cases, reduce case backlogs, and provide survivor- centered justice. Currently, Kenya has 12 specialized courts for victims of GBV. (xi) Formation of a presidential working group on femicide. In December, 2024, the Kenyan Cabinet approved the formation of a multi-sectoral Presidential Working Group tasked with developing a comprehensive approach to address the increasing GBV cases, including femicide. This group, comprising religious leaders, parents, schools, security agencies and civil society organizations, is mandated to identify legal and enforcement gaps and deliver actionable recommendations within 90 days. (xii) Specialized units within the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, ODPP. The ODPP has established specialized units focusing on SGBV, counter- trafficking in persons and child protection. These units are staffed with trained prosecutors who handle cases with a trauma-informed approach, ensuring effective prosecution and victim support. (xiii) Standard operating procedures for GBV case handling. In July, 2024, the Kwale Court Users Committee unveiled the first ever SOP Manual to streamline the reporting and the handling of SGBV cases. The manual outlines procedures for proper reporting, meticulous evidence recording and effective prosecution, aiming to ensure victims receive prompt and effective justice."
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"speaker": null,
"content": "[The Speaker (Hon. Kingi left the Chair]"
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"id": 1566071,
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"text_counter": 121,
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"speaker": null,
"content": "[The Deputy Speaker (Sen. Kathuri) in the Chair]"
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