President William Ruto has extended the terms of two special committees, the Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence, including Femicide and a panel at the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
In concurrent notices in the June 13 issue of the Kenya Gazette, the head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, announced the changes that are expected to extend the tenure of the 50 total appointees for 30 days and 10 days, respectively.
Firstly, the term of the Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence (GBV), including Femicide, was extended by thirty days, effective June 9 to end on July 8.
“It is notified for the general information of the public that His Excellency Hon. William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, has extended the term of the Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence (GBV), including Femicide for a period of thirty (30) days, with effect from the 9th June, 2025 up-to the 8th July, 2025. Dated the 13th of June, 2025,” the notice read.
President Ruto appointed the 42-member committee on January 10, with Dr Nancy Baraza slated to lead it.
Other notable members of the committee are the Law Society of Kenya President, Faith Odhiambo, crime and investigative journalist Franklin Wallah, former MP and minister Linah Jebii Kilimo and Dr Sam Thenya, the founder of the Nairobi Women's Hospital.
It was put in place to address the rising number of gender-based violence and femicide cases that had sparked public uproar.
The group was tasked with the responsibility of assessing, reviewing, and recommending measures to strengthen the institutional, legal, and policy response to GBV and femicide in the country by focusing on identifying trends, strengthening legal frameworks, and proposing actionable measures to combat the pervasive issue.
On the other hand, he extended the tenure of the selection panel for the recruitment of nominees for appointment as the chairperson of the KNCHR for 10 days.
“It is notified for the general information of the public that His Excellency, Hon. William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 11 (15) of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights Act, 2011, has extended the period specified under section 11 (4) of the Act by ten (10) days and under section 11 (5) of the Act by ten (10) days, in respect of the tenure of the Selection Panel appointed vide Gazette Notice No. 4651/2025 of 11th April, 2025,” the notice read.
The panel, appointed on April 11, is made up of eight members: Joe Ager, Lawrence Muiruri, Jackline Nekesa Makokha, Dr Irene Cherotich Asienga, Kathurima Hiram Kirimi, Catherine Wameyo, Faith Odhiambo and Prof Kenneth Wyne Mutuma.
In their appointment, President Ruto did not reveal the set period for their tenure. It followed the death of the commission's chairperson, Roseline Odhiambo Odede, on January 3.
