“Violence Against any Kenyan Is Unacceptable,”: Government Orders CCTV in Hotels and Short-Stay Lodgings to Prevent Violence

A new report presented to President William Ruto links short-stay rentals and hotels to Kenya’s rising gender-based violence (GBV) crisis. Between 2022 and 2024, 1,639 women were killed. Seventy-seven per cent of the cases involved intimate partners or people known to the victims. Authorities warn the real numbers are higher due to underreporting. Nairobi, Nakuru, and Meru counties have the highest cases. Women aged 30 to 44 are most affected.

The Technical Working Group (TWG) found that some short-stay facilities have become sites of GBV. Weak regulation and poor security make it easier for violence to happen. The report recommends mandatory CCTV in all short-stay rentals, hotels, and lodgings by September 31, 2026. The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife and the Ministry of Interior will enforce it. This is the first time the hospitality sector is part of Kenya’s GBV prevention strategy.

The TWG, chaired by former Deputy Chief Justice Dr. Nancy Baraza, said systemic failures are fueling the crisis. Femicide is not recognised as a separate crime. Justice processes are slow. Families or elders often block cases. Social media spreads both awareness and misinformation. Thirty-four per cent of Kenyan women have experienced physical violence since age 15. Thirteen per cent report sexual violence.

The report calls for GBV and femicide to be declared a national crisis. It urges legal recognition of femicide as a distinct crime. It also proposes banning out-of-court settlements that silence survivors. Survivor support services must expand, including one-stop recovery centres. Mental health and trauma care must improve. A national GBV and femicide database and a real-time dashboard should be created. Digital spaces must be regulated to protect victims. The report recommends a National GBV and Femicide Fund with ring-fenced county budgets.

The TWG stressed that GBV and femicide are not private family matters. They are serious violations of constitutional rights. As short-stay rentals and hotels grow, safety, accountability, and survivor protection must be part of every booking.