Kenya’s proposal to introduce chemical castration for repeat sex offenders has sparked intense legal and ethical debate, coming at a time when the country is confronting both a record surge in femicide and renewed concern over wrongful convictions in sexual offence cases.
In 2024, at least 170 women were murdered, the highest annual femicide toll on record, according to data verified by Africa Censored. The figure marked a 79 per cent increase from 2023, when 95 cases were reported, triggering nationwide protests and calls for urgent State intervention.
Responding to public pressure, President William Ruto in January 2025 appointed a 42 member Technical Working Group on Gender Based Violence, including femicide, chaired by former Deputy Chief Justice Nancy Baraza. The task force conducted consultations across all 47 counties and submitted its final report to the President on 26 January 2026.
“Gender based violence and femicide in Kenya are systemic, under reported and driven by structural power imbalances,” the report states. “Existing responses have been insufficient to match the scale and severity of violence facing women and girls.”
The report analysed more than 930 female murders recorded between 2016 and 2024, drawing from court records and media reports. It found that intimate partners were responsible for 70 per cent of femicide convictions in 2024 and that women aged between 18 and 35 remained the most vulnerable.
Justice delays remain a major concern. The task force found that cases took an average of 4.01 years from filing to verdict in 2024. While convictions increased by 118 per cent compared to the previous year, the report warned that inconsistent sentencing had weakened public confidence.
“Inconsistent sentencing has contributed to perceptions of leniency and undermined trust in the justice system,” the report states.
Among its most controversial recommendations is the introduction of chemical castration for convicted repeat rapists. The task force argues that tougher penalties are necessary to deter serial offenders and restore public confidence in the justice system.
However, the proposal has taken on added complexity following recent court decisions overturning sexual offence convictions based on false or unreliable testimony. In one widely reported case, a young man was released after serving years in prison when a court found that the key evidence used to convict him was false, raising fresh questions about irreversible punishments in a system prone to error.
Legal experts warn that such cases expose the risks of implementing medically invasive penalties before addressing evidentiary weaknesses and investigative failures.
“Chemical castration is not just a sentencing issue, it is a permanent bodily intervention,” said Dr Wahome Ngare, a medical doctor. “These drugs suppress sex hormones, but they do not correct violent behaviour or psychological disorders unless combined with intensive therapy.”
Dr Ngare added that while chemical castration is often described as reversible, long term use carries significant risks. “You are looking at osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, depression and metabolic complications. Some effects may not be fully reversible,” he said.
Ethical objections have also been raised by faith and human rights leaders. Fr Conor, a priest and trained doctor, said the proposal risked undermining fundamental rights. “Even when someone is convicted, they do not lose their inherent human dignity,” he said. “Using cancer suppression drugs as punishment introduces suffering that is not part of a judicial sentence.”
Cost remains another challenge. In Kenya, medications such as Goserelin or Leuprolide cost between Ksh.9,000 and over Ksh.39,000 per injection, with repeated doses required over time. Critics question whether the State can sustain such expenditure in a strained public health system, particularly when inmates often rely on family members for basic medical care.
Beyond punitive measures, the task force has proposed recognising femicide as a distinct criminal offence and declaring gender based violence a national crisis. “Such a declaration would elevate GBV to the highest level of national priority,” the report states, enabling faster coordination and resource mobilisation.
As Parliament prepares to review the proposals, the debate has sharpened around a central tension: how to deliver justice for women and girls while safeguarding due process in a system that has demonstrably failed some of the accused?
