President William Ruto has called on security agencies in the country to combat the worrying trend of femicide in the country.
Speaking at KICC during the swearing in his deputy Kithure Kindiki, Ruto expressed concern that women and girls in the country have been losing their lives after being killed in cold blood.
“I know that of recent we have seen incidences of our girls, our mothers, our women who have been murdered in cold blood,” Ruto said.
“Let me say this, that the DCI and all the investigative authorities in the Republic of Kenya must stand up to these criminals and we must deal with them decisively and firmly,” the President said.
He called on society as a whole to be on the lookout for such criminals who go around luring girls and women into insecure places before murdering them.
“I want to ask us as a society to be careful with strangers, to be careful with people who lure our girls and our women into situations that compromise their security but we must be on the lookout all of us as a nation.”
On Wednesday, Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat admitted that there has been a sharp rise in cases of murder and manslaughter as he called for concerted efforts to end it.
Lagat disclosed that in the last three months alone, they have recorded 97 cases of femicide reported in various parts of the country.
He, however, stated that they have made progress in ensuring they conclude probes into these cases.
He said through targeted strategies and collaborative efforts with various stakeholders, they aim to establish a safer environment for women and ensure comprehensive investigation and prosecution of all cases.
“We urge every member of society, including governmental, civil, and religious leaders, to engage in this crucial dialogue,” he said. “Collective action can help us to eradicate the scourge of femicide and safeguard the lives of our citizens,” he added.
Lagat who was flanked by his counterpart Gilbert Masengeli, Gender Principal Secretary Anne Wangombe and DCI boss Mohamed Amin also appealed for information that will lead to the re-arrest of Collins Jumaisi Khalusha.
