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The Technical Working Committee to Combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV), including femicide, kicks off its nationwide hearings on Monday, May 12.
The sessions, led by former Deputy Chief Justice Nancy Baraza, will run through May 28 across several counties, including Taita Taveta, Marsabit, Embu, Trans Nzoia, Samburu, Garissa, and Kisumu.
The Baraza-led panel is tasked with assessing current responses to GBV and femicide and recommending legal, institutional, and policy reforms aimed at strengthening protections for victims.
The move comes as calls for a safer, more supportive environment for survivors of gender-based violence continue to grow.
Civil society groups and mental health advocates have lauded the initiative, with many highlighting the need for holistic approaches to recovery and prevention.
Among these is Elevate Her Wellness Hub, an initiative founded by mental health advocate Nasra Mohamed, which focuses on providing safe spaces for women to discuss health, relationships, stress, and emotional well-being.
“There’s a growing need for platforms where people, especially women, can open up about mental health,” said Nasra during a packed wellness event held in Nairobi.
“Our hub is one of many spaces helping women feel seen, heard, and supported.”
The event featured key voices in the mental wellness space, including transformational leadership coach Najda Khan and industrial psychologist Muthoni Gathecha.
Both emphasized the importance of integrating mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health into everyday life.
“Emotional wellness is not about suppressing feelings,” Khan noted.
“It’s about the courage to communicate needs with clarity and compassion. Setting boundaries is a form of self-respect.”
Nasra also underscored the link between wellness and leadership.
“Taking care of oneself isn’t a distraction from ambition—it’s essential for long-term success and impact,” she said, advocating for practices such as mindfulness, prayer, and reflection as tools for women to lead with purpose.
The session also delved into the impact of hormonal health on lifestyle and nutrition, drawing from traditional wellness systems like Ayurveda.
Wellness expert Seeya Jaffer explained that Ayurveda views health holistically, emphasizing the balance of mind, body, and environment.
“Ayurveda teaches that everything in the universe is interconnected,” Jaffer said. “When one part of a person’s life is out of balance, it affects the whole.”
Holistic life coach Fartuun Hussein on her part stressed the need to approach transitions with self-compassion and view them as gateways to deeper self-discovery.
As the Nancy Baraza-led hearings progress, stakeholders hope the committee’s findings will pave the way for more robust and compassionate support systems for GBV survivors nationwide.
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