Senators push for tougher jail terms and mandatory compensation in landmark bill targeting SGBV offenders nationwide

A new Bill sponsored by the Kenya Women Senators’ Association (KEWOSA) is seeking to impose tougher penalties on perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), including a requirement for offenders to compensate their victims in addition to serving jail time.

The proposed law introduces what KEWOSA terms as a “double punishment” framework combining custodial sentences with mandatory restitution to survivors. It also seeks to close legal gaps that have long allowed sexual offenders to evade justice.

If passed, the legislation will amend key laws, including the Children Act (2022), Sexual Offences Act (2006), Basic Education Act (2013), Marriage Act (2014), and the Counter-Trafficking in Persons Act (2010) to strengthen protection and enforcement mechanisms.

Speaking during the presentation of the Bill, KEWOSA Vice Chairperson and nominated Senator Hezena Lemaletian said survivors deserve not just justice but meaningful compensation.

“Victims of these heinous crimes must receive not only justice but also adequate support and compensation,” Lemaletian said, adding that the Bill provides a reparation framework compelling offenders to make financial restitution.

The draft law also proposes stronger measures for evidence collection and witness protection including the use of video links and recorded testimonies to shield victims from intimidation during court proceedings.

It further calls for the creation of safe spaces and shelters for survivors, particularly in cases where offenders are relatives, and urges the government to allocate adequate funding for such facilities.

KEWOSA also proposes outlawing “kangaroo courts” and informal dispute resolutions in SGBV and teenage pregnancy cases, insisting that justice must be delivered through formal judicial systems.

The move follows a Senate fact-finding mission in Busia County, where alarming rates of teenage pregnancies and SGBV were reported. According to KEWOSA Chairperson and nominated Senator Veronica Maina, data from the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council shows Busia recorded 65,540 teenage pregnancies between 2016 and 2024.

“Teenage pregnancies remain one of the biggest barriers to girls’ education and empowerment. It denies young girls the opportunity to complete their education and achieve economic independence,” Maina said.

Busia alone reported 4,542 teenage pregnancies last year, while nationwide cases reached 47,632, underscoring a worrying trend. Between 2016 and 2024, the county also recorded 2,884 SGBV cases among adolescents with defilement accounting for 171 pregnancies.

KEWOSA lawmakers warned that early pregnancies and sexual abuse expose girls to severe health complications, including maternal deaths and higher risks of HIV and other infections. They said the Bill seeks to address not only justice but the broader social and economic consequences of SGBV across K