Nominated Senator Prof. Margaret Kamar has called for urgent and collective action against the rising cases of femicide and gender-based violence (GBV) in Kenya, following a powerful town hall meeting held in Ainabkoi Constituency.
Speaking at the well-attended forum — which brought together over 500 residents, experts, and local leaders — Prof. Kamar emphasized that GBV and femicide have become national crises that require multi-sectoral intervention, particularly at the grassroots level.
“This is part of President William Ruto’s agenda, where he formed a task force under Justice Nancy Baraza to address femicide and GBV. Today we gathered to understand the root causes and what is truly ailing our society,” said Prof. Kamar.
The town hall featured a diverse five-member panel that included a lawyer, a counselor from Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), a gender desk police officer, and a youth human rights leader. Together, they unpacked the complex factors contributing to GBV and femicide, offering expert insight and practical solutions.
The panel noted that outdated traditional conflict resolution methods are increasingly ineffective in dealing with modern gender-related issues. One common theme was the role of parenting, where children exposed to violence in their formative years often replicate such behaviors later in life.
“We discovered that GBV is not just a women's issue. It cuts across generations and communities. Young men and women are navigating complex relationships, and without guidance, this can turn tragic,” Kamar noted.
Participants — including many youth and elders — were given a platform to share their experiences, ask questions, and suggest community-driven solutions. The open dialogue revealed deep-seated issues around toxic masculinity, economic stress, trauma, and lack of awareness on where to report violence.
In a significant step forward, a local lawyer at the forum pledged to offer pro bono legal services to survivors of gender-based violence, while the MTRH counselor highlighted safe spaces and reporting avenues available to victims.
Prof. Kamar committed to pursuing legislative reforms aimed at closing legal gaps in the fight against femicide and GBV.
“As a legislator, I will take what we’ve learned here and push for proposals that strengthen protection laws and improve response mechanisms. But this issue also demands awareness — and that starts at the grassroots.”
Jonathan Ngetich, MCA for Kaptagat Ward, praised the initiative and urged the Uasin Gishu County Government to allocate funds in the upcoming budget for community sensitization and anti-GBV programs.
“This forum was eye-opening. If we can take these conversations to ward level, we can change mindsets and save lives. I call on the county to support this effort financially,” said Ngetich.
The town hall concluded with a strong, unified message: gender-based violence and femicide must stop, and communities must come together — regardless of age, gender, or background — to create a safer and more just society.“We cannot normalize violence. No one should die because of love, rejection, or misunderstanding. Kenya must rise above this,” Prof. Kamar affirmed.
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