Nancy Baraza, former Deputy Chief Justice of Kenya, has been appointed by President William Ruto to lead a 42-member task force on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and femicide.
This decision comes in response to the alarming rise in GBV and femicide cases in the country, with the task force tasked to assess, review, and recommend measures to strengthen the institutional, legal, and policy frameworks to tackle these issues.
Baraza’s appointment was announced on January 10, 2025, with the task force including notable figures like Franklin Wallah, Faith Odhiambo, and Dr. Sam Thenya, among others.
The team’s mandate includes identifying trends, hotspots, and causes contributing to GBV and femicide; strengthening legal frameworks; and proposing actionable measures to combat these pervasive issues.
However, this appointment has not been without controversy. Some public reactions to X have expressed scepticism or outright opposition to Baraza’s leadership of this task force due to her past, particularly an incident where she was accused of assaulting a security guard, which led to her resignation from the Judiciary in 2012.
Critics argue that her history of violence might undermine the task force’s credibility in addressing GBV.
The task force is expected to deliver its final report within 90 days, with the possibility of extension if necessary, indicating a push for swift action against GBV and femicide in Kenya.
