The rising cases of femicide in Kenya are like a dark cloud looming over the nation, casting shadows on the bright futures of many women.
It’s as if a storm of despair is gathering strength, fueled by societal indifference and systematic failures, threatening to engulf the very fabric of our society.
Femicide has gone beyond being a cry for help from a few families who have lost women to being a highly charged subject in the country.
In 2023, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics reported an increase in gender-based violence, with femicide rates rising by nearly 30 per cent.
Femicide cases have since increased; this alarming trend is not just a statistic; it represents the lives of countless women who face violence simply for being women.
WHAT IS FEMICIDE?
According to the World Health Organization: Femicide is generally understood to involve intentional murder of women because they are women, but broader definitions include any killings of women or girls.
WHO states that violence against women is a major public health problem and a violation of human rights.
“For women in many parts of the world, violence is a leading cause of injury and disability, as well as a risk factor for other physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health problems,” WHO said.
“Violence has long-term consequences for these women and their children, as well as social and economic costs for all society.”
RISING CASES OF FEMICIDE: WHERE ARE WE HEADED AS A COUNTRY?
The Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (Fida) has condemned what they termed as an alarming rise in femicide in the country.
Mark Owuor, head of communications at Fida-Kenya, said the recent surge in femicide is both heartbreaking and alarming.
“ This crisis represents a gross violation of women's constitutional rights to life, safety, security and reflects systemic failures in protecting women across Kenya,” Owuor said.
Fida-Kenya recently issued a presser fronting demands to the government on the rising femicide cases, a situation that received attention from the National Police Service, Gender PS, DCI, and the President.
Fida had urged the state to deploy necessary resources towards the investigation and prosecution of all perpetrators of femicide in the country.
“We maintain that femicide is a crisis, and we must start from there. This issue cannot be ignored—it is a national emergency that requires urgent, coordinated interventions to ensure the safety and dignity of every woman and girl in Kenya,” Owuor said.
WHAT FACTORS MAY BE CONTRIBUTING TO RISING FEMICIDE CASES IN KENYA?
Owuor said the rising cases of femicide in Kenya reflect a complex mix of societal issues rather than just individual moral degradation.
“These heinous acts often stem from deep-rooted gender inequalities, societal acceptance of violence as a conflict resolution method, and a failure in systems meant to protect women, such as law enforcement and the justice system,” he said.
“Cultural norms that condone or ignore violence against women, combined with economic hardships, mental health issues, and sometimes substance abuse, can also contribute to these crimes.”
WHERE DID WE GO WRONG?
“As a country, we need to end the culture of victim blaming. Victim blaming includes blaming our women for inappropriate dressing or being with the wrong people at the wrong place or time,” Owour said.
“We must understand that no one leaves their houses to go and be killed; we need to have a comprehensive gender-sensitive civic education to help reshape societal attitudes towards victims and survivors of GBV.
“Many survivors lack access to support services like shelters, legal aid, counselling, and medical care. These resources are either insufficiently funded or poorly distributed nationwide, leaving women without recourse in critical moments.”
Africa Data Hub reports that most of the reported femicide cases were preceded by what they call a pattern of abuse where the victims were subjected to domestic violence from their partners before they were brutally murdered.
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT FEMICIDE CASES SO FAR
The Media Council of Kenya said femicide goes against the values that the Constitution of Kenya 2010.
MCK said according to Femicide Count Kenya, 150 femicide cases were recorded in 2023.
“This number only represents cases reported in the media; the true count is probably much higher. Additionally, statistics from relief online showed in just the first month of 2024, at least 10 women had lost their lives, exacerbating an already alarming trend,” MCK said
The council said these reports underscore the grave circumstances throughout the nation despite the constitutional assurances of parity and accomplishment—a fundamental duty of the state and all its organs.
Data by Africa Uncensored showed Nairobi, Kiambu, and Nakuru as counties reported the highest incidences of femicide-related killings.
MCK said certain areas lack news correspondents or media bureaus, resulting in limited local coverage, which underscores the complexity of obtaining a comprehensive understanding of femicide trends nationwide.
MCK reported that Kenya stands well above its neighbours on femicide on the World Bank Group’s Women, Business and the Law Index, scoring 80.6 out of 100 compared to the regional average of 72.6 observed across Sub-Saharan Africa and higher than the average score for Eastern and Southern Africa, at 74.1 (Worldbank, 2023).
WHAT NEXT?
Fida-Kenya actively pushes for legislative reforms to establish femicide as a standalone crime in the Penal Code, ensuring cases are met with specific legal consequences.
“This is part of our broader advocacy to strengthen laws addressing gender-based violence (GBV),” Owuor said.
He said Fida provides free legal representation to survivors of GBV and families of femicide victims, helping them seek justice.
“We support prosecution in cases of femicide, including where there is evidence of systemic negligence by authorities, and offer counselling services to survivors and the families of femicide victims, providing critical emotional and psychological support as they cope with trauma and navigate the path to justice.”
Fida-Kenya chairs the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) Committee on the Review of Laws and Policies on SGBV and implores those affected to come out to end femicide prevalence in the country.
Fida chairperson Christine Kungu said the organisation 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.
“Fida-Kenya reaffirms its commitment to advocating for the protection of women's rights and ensuring no woman's life is cut short by senseless violence,” Kungu said.
“We further wish to assure the public that Fida-Kenya will not stop at this; femicide must be declared a national disaster in Kenya.”
“Addressing femicide requires a holistic approach, including community-level education, legal reforms, strengthened law enforcement accountability, and accessible support services for women,” Owuor said.
He said ending femicide is not just about addressing individual actions but confronting the broader societal norms and systems that allow such violence to continue unchecked.
