High Court upholds legality of Ruto’s femicide taskforce

The High Court has dismissed a constitutional petition challenging the legality of the Presidential Taskforce on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.

Sitting in Nakuru, Justice Patricia Gichohi ruled the President acted within his constitutional authority when he established the task force through Executive Order and Gazette Notice No 109 of January 9, 2025.

It was later extended by Gazette Notice No 3862 of March 28, 2025.

The petition, filed by Magare-Gikenyi B and three others, alleged the President acted outside the authority given to him by the Constitution by creating a body whose functions overlapped with those of the National Gender and Equality Commission.

The petitioners argued the establishment of the task force violated various articles of the Constitution.