Civil society groups in Kilifi have renewed calls for the government to enact a distinct law that categorizes femicide as a special form of murder, punishable by harsher penalties.

Speaking during a public participation forum convened by the Technical Working Committee on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) including Femicide, the groups argued that current legal provisions treat femicide as an ordinary homicide, failing to acknowledge the gender-based motives behind such killings.

“Femicide is not your average murder. It’s a gendered crime and should be treated as the most grievous form of murder. We need legislation that recognizes this distinction, and the punishment must reflect the gravity of the crime,” said Betty Kabari from End Femicide Kenya.

The forum held in Kilifi is part of a national public engagement initiative aimed at gathering grassroots input for a comprehensive GBV reform report, which will be submitted to President William Ruto.

However, the proposal to categorise femicide separately drew mixed reactions from the judiciary.

Kilifi Chief Magistrate Ivy Wasike raised concerns over legal equity, cautioning against creating gender-specific punishments without considering broader implications.

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“Today, the conversation is about women being killed because of their gender. But what happens tomorrow when we begin to see men being targeted for the same reason? Do we then create another special law for that?” she posed.

Kilifi county government director for gender, Mwangome Shumaa, also shared similar fears, urging caution in legislating emotions without robust definitions and safeguards.

Kilifi County Director of Gender Georgina Dullu revealed that only one femicide case had been recorded as such by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in the county. The rest were classified under general homicide or murder.

“This shows a glaring gap in how these cases are documented and prosecuted. We need a legal framework that provides clear definitions and distinguishes femicide from other forms of murder,” Dullu said.

The Technical Working Group is chaired by former Deputy Chief Justice Nancy Baraza, who assured stakeholders that their voices would be captured in the final report to be presented to the Head of State.

“We were given a very clear directive by the President: no academic papers. He wants an actionable report, grounded in the lived experiences and needs of Kenyans, especially on matters of GBV,” Baraza said.

Kilifi becomes the fifth county to host the consultative forum, following similar meetings in Nairobi, Kisumu, Meru, and Nakuru.

Kenya has in recent months seen a disturbing rise in gender-based killings, prompting public outcry and pressure on policymakers to address what campaigners have described as a “silent epidemic.”

Rights groups have consistently argued that without specific legal recognition of femicide, perpetrators are likely to receive lenient sentences, and victims denied justice.

The Technical Working Committee is expected to conclude its public engagement phase by mid-year, after which a policy framework will be presented to the Cabinet and Parliament for adoption.