Men have been urged to take a leading role in ending violence against women.
Participants at a groundbreaking Men’s Conference emphasized that gender-based violence (GBV) can be eradicated if men actively speak out and hold each other accountable.
For years, the so-called Men’s Conference was little more than an inside joke—an excuse for men to "disappear" on Valentine’s Day.
But in 2025, something different happened. Men took the stage to advocate for respect and dignity for women.
Held on February 14, this was the first-ever in-person Men’s Conference of its kind, led by award-winning actor and filmmaker Abel Mutua.
The event provided a platform for men to discuss accountability, mental health, and the fight against GBV.
“Violence against women must never be normalized—it must be fought on all fronts, including by men,” Mutua told participants.
“We must lead from the front against femicide and also speak freely about our own struggles to prevent depression.”
The conference included men who had lost their mothers to GBV, highlighting the personal toll of unchecked violence.
“If we stand together and communicate openly with our women, we will save lives,” said John Muchiri, whose mother was a victim of femicide.
The conference heard that most men witnessed problematic behaviour among friends and family but hesitated to call it out.
They feared backlash, losing friendships, or being dismissed as overreacting.
The Men’s conference attracted influencers, businessmen, pastors, professionals, and public figures like Mike Muchiri, Nick Kwach, Presenter Ali, and The Real Chiche J Segera.
Discussions were raw and unfiltered, with attendees acknowledging that most femicide cases are committed by men—husbands, boyfriends, and partners.
“But it doesn’t start with murder,” Mutua emphasized.
“It starts with unchecked violence, normalized aggression, and a culture of silence.”
Many admitted they had turned a blind eye to friends' abusive behaviour, either out of fear or uncertainty about how to intervene.
For Mutua, this conference was more than just a one-time event—it was a personal mission.
Last year, he hosted Africa’s largest movie premiere, Makosa Ni Yangu, as a wake-up call for society.
Then, a simple video about holding friends accountable went viral, suggesting men need a space for real conversations.
Mutua teamed up with award-winning director Isaya Evans, who had personally experienced the tragedy of femicide—his colleague, Lillian, was murdered in November 2023.
Even those who couldn’t attend rallied behind the cause.
Ferdinand Omanyala, Africa’s fastest man, stated:
“In athletics, accountability is everything. The same applies in life—men must stop excusing bad behavior.”
Capital FM’s Martin Kariuki urged men to speak up:
“Tusiogopane—let’s not fear each other. Let’s call out wrongdoing openly.”
Stephen Letoo, Citizen TV’s ‘Men’s Conference Chairman’, added:
“It’s time men stood against the vices committed by their peers. Let’s always speak out.”
John-Allan Namu, an award-winning journalist, reinforced the media’s role:
“Our platforms must amplify the right messages and challenge toxic narratives.”
This historic Men’s Conference proved that men are ready to engage in honest, necessary conversations—and that change starts with them.
