‘We are not going to drink sodas’

Former Deputy Chief Justice Nancy Baraza has promised the prudent use of resources after she was appointed to chair a task force to end the rising cases of femicide.

Speaking during a live TV show on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, Baraza said that Kenyans’ concerns about the need for accountability in the use of resources are legitimate.

“Kenyans’ concerns about how we use resources are quite legitimate. I can assure Kenyans that we are not going to drink sodas and do all those strange things. We will see how we can prudently manage the resources because we don’t have much,” Baraza said.

Ksh100 million awareness

This came after reports emerged that a Ksh100 million released by the government in 2024 to raise awareness of the surging cases of femicide was used for setting up tents and having refreshments.

Baraza was sworn in on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, to head the 42-member technical working group on gender-based violence, making a major comeback to state circles since her exit from the office of the deputy chief justice.

The former Deputy CJ equally noted that the task force will be hitting the ground running, with the first meeting since the swearing-in ceremony slated for today, Wednesday, January 29, 2025.

In 2024, the number of femicide cases rose to 170 from 95 in 2023. The reported cases of femicide were 67 in 2022, 113 in 2021 and 82 in 2020.

Also, Nairobi recorded the highest number of femicide incidents followed by Kiambu county, Nakuru, Kirinyaga and Kisii counties.

Actionable recommendations

The task force led by Baraza will be required to propose actionable recommendations to combat gender-based violence and femicide.

 Equally, the task force will be required to assess, review, and recommend measures to strengthen the institutional, legal, and policy response to gender-based violence and femicide.

Some of the members of the taskforce are Ann Ireri, Nairobi Women’s Hospital founder Sam Thenya, James Nombi, Michael Kariuki, Law Society of Kenya’s president Faith Odhiambo, Linda Musumba, and Seth Masese. Others are Gloria Wawira, Shem Nyakutu, Anthony Nzioki, Linah Kilimo, Nobert Talam, Edna Ngare, Lucy Njeri, and Beatrice Karwitha, among others.

While appointing the task force, Ruto underscored the importance of tackling the vice  noting that: “The rise in GBV and femicide cases inflicts immense emotional and physical harm on individuals and communities, further deepening gender inequalities.”