The Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya Fida has condemned what they termed as alarming rise in femicide in the country.
They urged the state to deploy necessary resources towards investigation and prosecution of all perpetrators of femicide in the country.
“The alarming rise in femicide cases is unacceptable. Enough is enough! It’s clear that women and girls in Kenya are facing a severe threat to their security and safety,” Fida chairperson Christine Kungu said in a presser to newsrooms on Thursday.
Kungu said the government, security agencies and all stakeholders must take immediate and concrete steps to enhance the protection of women and ensure that such atrocities do not continue.
“We must take an active role in safeguarding the lives and dignity of women and girls. We, therefore, call for increased vigilance, protection mechanisms, and support for women, especially those in high-risk areas,” she said.
She said Fida was deeply saddened and outraged by the shocking and brutal murders of six women of different ages from different parts of the country reported over the last three days.
“On Monday, October 21, the bodies of Amina Abdi Rashid Dahir, her daughter (22), and her niece (12) were discovered in Machakos, along Park Road and Bahati areas respectively after they went missing from Eastleigh, Nairobi.
"According to the police, the same person likely killed all three,” Kungu said.
“Similarly, the body of Seth Nyakio Njeri, a 23-year-old Zetech University graduate, was found in a house in Thika on October 14, 2024. In another incident, Christine Nyakio, a 24-year-old woman from Ngong, was also found murdered in a swamp on October 21, 2024 after disappearing from her home. In Kisumu county, another woman's body was discovered along Kisumu-Busia Road. Sadly, these six gruesome murders highlight the disturbing trend of femicide cases that continue to plague our nation," Kungu said.
"Fida-Kenya extends its deepest condolences to the families and friends of these women. Their senseless deaths are not only a personal tragedy but also a reflection of the growing insecurity and disregard for women's and girls’ lives in our society. These crimes must not go unresolved."
Kungu said Fida strongly condemns the heinous acts of femicide and calls on law enforcement agencies to prioritise the cases and ensure the victims and their families receive justice.
She said as Kenyans mourn the women’s tragic loss, they stand in solidarity with their families and loved ones.
“Fida-Kenya reaffirms its commitment to advocating for the protection of women's rights and ensuring that no woman's life is cut short by senseless violence. We further wish to assure the public that Fida-Kenya will not stop at this; femicide must be declared a national disaster in Kenya,” Kungu stated.
Kungu said the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, must come out publicly and assure all women and girls of their safety.
She said they won’t accept to normalize the daily killings of women and girls that are currently being reported.