Member of Parliament Gathoni Wamuchomba is calling for strict legislation to prevent sexual offenders from working in schools and hospitals. She addressed the National Assembly on November 4, urging fellow lawmakers to support proposed reforms to Kenya's Sexual Offences Act. Wamuchomba believes robust safeguards will help prevent systemic abuse and ensure offenders face full legal accountability. The proposed law aims to strengthen judicial prosecution for sexual crimes and outlaw informal community settlements.
Wamuchomba contributed to the floor debate on the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2025, sponsored by Garissa Woman Representative Amina Udgoon Siyad. The bill seeks to blacklist repeat offenders and prevent them from working with vulnerable populations. Wamuchomba stated that repeat offenders should not be allowed to drive school buses, work as healthcare providers in hospitals, or interact with vulnerable individuals. She noted that positions of trust in academic, medical, and religious institutions create opportunities for repeat perpetrators when mandatory workplace screening fails.
Wamuchomba revealed that her campaign builds on efforts she initiated in previous parliamentary sessions. In the previous House, she attempted to bring an amendment to blacklist offenders but faced pushback from some sections of society. Her continuous advocacy traces back to the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2020, which she spearheaded during her tenure as the Kiambu Woman Representative. The 2020 bill proposed mandatory background screening for job applications involving childcare or oversight of vulnerable persons.
The 2020 bill proposed severe statutory penalties for non-compliant organizations, including fines up to KSh1 million, prison sentences reaching three years, or both. The legislation also outlined framework enhancements for collecting, analyzing, and tracking forensic evidence during sexual assault investigations. Kenya currently maintains a national registry of convicted offenders under the Sexual Offences Act, which was formally launched in June 2023.
While the existing registry tracks past convictions, Wamuchomba's proposed amendments add proactive deterrence through rigorous employment vetting and mandatory workplace restrictions. Garissa Woman Representative Siyad's 2025 bill addresses judicial avoidance by inserting Section 40A into the Act, which voids out-of-court agreements, traditional reconciliations, or financial settlements designed to resolve sexual assault cases outside formal court proceedings.
Siyad's bill advanced to its second reading in September, with lawmakers maintaining active debate throughout recent sessions. Wamuchomba publicly pledged her support for the bill and encouraged Siyad to incorporate specific blacklisting provisions for repeat offenders as the legislation moves forward. The bill aims to strengthen judicial prosecution for sexual crimes and effectively outlaw informal community settlements.
The proposed legislation has the potential to significantly impact public safety and prevent systemic abuse. If passed, it will ensure that offenders face full legal accountability and prevent them from targeting vulnerable individuals. The bill's progress will be closely watched by stakeholders, including advocacy groups and the general public.
Key points
- MP Gathoni Wamuchomba is advocating for legislation to blacklist sexual offenders and bar them from jobs involving children and vulnerable populations.
- The proposed law aims to strengthen judicial prosecution for sexual crimes and outlaw informal community settlements.
- The legislation has the potential to significantly impact public safety and prevent systemic abuse.
