HARRIETTE CHIGGAI: A chance to break cycle of violence

Ivy Wangechi. Agnes Tirop. Rebecca Cheptegei. Mercy Kwamboka. Faith Musembi. Do these names resonate with you?

For their families, these women are irreplaceable—daughters, sisters and friends whose absence is felt every day.

But for the nation, they risk becoming mere footnotes in a grim catalogue of gender-based violence, their stories fading from memory as new headlines emerge.

Yet, their deaths, senseless and brutal, are part of a horrifying trend—futures stolen simply because they were women.

In November 2024, Kenya’s Police Service reported 97 femicide cases in just three months, averaging one murder a day—a shocking spike from the 150 cases documented in all of 2023.

These figures reflect a broader crisis across the continent, where in 2023, the femicide rate from intimate partner violence was the world’s highest at 2.9 per 100,000 women.

Globally, the situation is just as alarming: in 2023, 51,100 women and girls were killed by intimate partners or family members, a rise from 48,800 in 2022.

But why is this happening? These are not isolated incidents, but the result of a systemic crisis rooted in deeply entrenched gender inequalities and patriarchal norms that devalue women’s lives.

On an individual level, economic and social disempowerment often leaves women dependent on men for support and validation, reducing them to objects to be controlled or discarded when they challenge expectations.

At a societal level, the crisis is perpetuated by structural barriers to justice, such as weak enforcement of GBV laws, the normalisation of violence, victimblaming and the pervasive belief that women’s behaviour must be controlled.

This continuum of violence begins with the desire for control, manifesting as domestic violence, sexual harassment and assault, with femicide as its most extreme endpoint.

While significant efforts are underway to empower women, progress is hindered by a lack of shared understanding of the problem, insufficient public awareness and persistent gaps in policy and enforcement.

This is why the establishment of the Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, gazetted under Gazette Notice No 109 on January 10, 2025, by the President, is a vital step forward.

The taskforce’s mandate to assess, review and recommend measures to strengthen institutional, legal and policy responses marks a significant moment in addressing this crisis comprehensively.

The taskforce is a vital starting point for addressing GBV and femicide, but its success hinges on a shared commitment from all sectors of society—government, civil society, communities and individuals alike.

The solutions required are broad with legal, cultural, economic and societal dimensions of this crisis. While reforming our legal framework is crucial, it will be ineffective without community-based interventions that challenge the deeply embedded cultural norms that perpetuate violence against women.

Faith-based organisations, traditional leaders and community champions must take an active role in driving a social shift toward embracing gender equality unequivocally.

At the same time, we must place men and boys at the heart of this transformation, engaging them as allies in dismantling toxic masculinity, promoting respect for women’s rights and ensuring that masculinity is reframed—not as an inherent threat but as a pillar of support in creating equitable societies.

Economic empowerment for women is another critical pillar, as reducing dependency and vulnerability not only enhances women’s autonomy but also strengthens families, communities and the nation.

This empowerment must be framed as a partnership, not a competition, where men and women collaborate to build stronger homes and brighter futures.

Our response must also acknowledge the survivors and those already deeply scarred by this scourge. They require robust rehabilitation and support systems, including shelters, legal aid, counselling services and accountability mechanisms that hold perpetrators to account.

Clear and consistent consequences for such acts will set a powerful precedent, sending an unequivocal message that violence against women has no place in our society.

This dialogue will have to extend beyond taskforce discussions and government initiatives.