Gender, Culture and Children’s Services Cabinet Secretary Hanna Wendot Cheptumo has ordered a 90-day rapid response operation to speed up the handling of gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide cases across the country.

The move comes as the ministry raises concern over what it calls a steady rise in violence against women and children. Officials say the number of reported cases in the past two months has increased, deepening public concern over safety in homes and public spaces.

Cheptumo said the government will now focus on fast-tracking investigations, court cases and arrests through a Rapid Results Initiative (RRI). She said the plan targets both new and pending cases.

“We are going to support her, and we shall be proceeding to her home to find out the welfare of those particular children and see how we can help,” Cheptumo said during a visit to survivors at the Gender Violence Recovery Centre in Nairobi.

The ministry said the 90-day programme will strengthen coordination between agencies involved in policing, prosecution, health services and community protection. It will also track cases already in court to avoid delays that often slow justice for survivors.

Cheptumo said the government will not only respond to cases but also push prevention. She urged the public to speak out against abuse and report incidents early.

“We equally call upon all Kenyans to reject the culture of silence that allows violence to persist. Protecting women and children is a shared national responsibility that requires action from families, communities, institutions and society as a whole,” she said.

GVRC reports rising cases

The announcement followed a visit to survivors receiving treatment at the Nairobi Women’s Hospital Gender Violence Recovery Centre (GVRC). The centre is one of the main facilities in the country supporting survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.

Health workers at the centre say they continue to see high numbers of cases every month. The GVRC executive director, Alberta Wambua, said the scale of the problem remains high.

From April 2025 to March 2026, we supported approximately 3,263 survivors of gender-based violence. 90 per cent of our cases are female cases, and we have 40 per cent being children,” Wambua said.

She added that the centre handles about 300 GBV-related cases every month, putting pressure on medical and counselling services.

The ministry highlighted two recent survivor cases during the visit. One woman is receiving treatment after her husband allegedly poured boiling tea on her, leaving her with burn injuries. She is being treated at GVRC.

In another case, a woman was attacked by a boda boda rider after she resisted an attempted rape. She suffered serious injuries after being thrown over a cliff and has undergone multiple surgeries.

Doctors say she is recovering but still needs further operations and pain management.

Cheptumo said the government will follow up on both cases and support the survivors and their families. She added that officers will visit affected homes to assess the welfare of children and other dependents.

The 90-day initiative now places pressure on security agencies and courts to act faster on GBV cases. The ministry says it will monitor progress throughout the period as part of a wider effort to reduce violence and improve protection systems for women and children.