- According to Aura, the law does not make room for deterrence - the action of discouraging an action or event through instilling doubt or fear of the consequences.
- "There is need for new policies to be implemented that perpetrators should be held accountable and the same way they commit the crime is the same way they need to be punished," Aura says.
Image: THE STAR
It has been like a song that no one wants to listen to despite it being on replay.
A song that should not have been produced or sung in the first place.
On Wednesday, Kenya and Uganda woke up to the tune of that song.
That Athlete Rebecca Cheptegei had been admitted to the ICU at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
This was after her alleged boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, doused her with petrol and burned her.
Cheptegei who participated in 10,000m race at the recent Paris Olympics, sustained 80 per cent burns.
On Thursday, the region woke up to the sad news of her passing away.
MTRH acting Director Dr Owen Menach confirmed she died last night after all her organs failed
"Unfortunately, we lost her after all her organs failed last night," Dr Menach said.
Hers was the latest case of femicide. One of the more than 10 cases of femicide that have dominated the headlines in Kenya since January.
Cheptegei's death also pulled the band-aid off the wound that has been occasioned by the killings of female athletes in the country.
Valerie Aura of Nguvu Collective says Kenya needs to recognise femicide, which involves "many inhumane activities" against the female gender, as a separate crime.
This is separate from assault and murder.
"Femicide being regarded as a separate crime will see that it is handled urgently and will make the perpetrators go through the same ordeal that they made their victims go through," she says.
Aura raises concern that in most cases, these perpetrators end up being pardoned or being given less than enough punishments.
According to Aura, the law does not make room for deterrence - the action of discouraging an action or event through instilling doubt or fear of the consequences.
She recalls athletes Agnes Tirop who was stabbed to death in October 2021, allegedly by her husband, and Damaris Mutua who was strangled in April 2022.
"There is need for new policies to be implemented that perpetrators should be held accountable and the same way they commit the crime is the same way they need to be punished," Aura says.
Nguvu Collective's Sylvia Awinja says it is time mass education was conducted to inform people about femicide and the cases that have been there.
She says there should not be anything like "women protecting themselves against femicides", as this would add up to victimising the victim.
Awinja notes that instead, the discussion should be on "how can men stop abusing women".
She says that even though there are plans to establish safe houses across the country, this has not been actualised yet.
She has instead called on the government to take the plan more seriously so that women in abusive relationships get counselling and refuge.
Awinja says that for example, in Kisumu County, there are no safe houses so women in abusive relationships get counselling and get send back to their assaulters.
When it comes to the law, Awinja notes there should not be bail/bond release on the suspects of femicide.
"Are we not supposed to be empowered in our own land?" she says on the issue of men killing women for their properties.
How should women be protected to bring a stop to femicide?
Aura says police officers need to take it seriously when a case of assault against a woman by her lover is reported.
"There is need for acceptance when we walk out of relationships. There is stigma from the society and this needs to stop," she says.
Aura says women need protection from law enforcers, families, friends and the government.
Aura has called for safe houses in every county to help rid of femicide as women will know where to find refuge.
On her part, Awinja says it is high time that young boys and men are taught how to treat women with love, care and respect.
"We need to teach our boys from a young age how to treat a woman. How women are supposed to be handled. Education is supposed to start from a very young age until they mature," she says.
Awinja also notes that women should walk out when they start seeing the "red flags".
Image: COURTSEY