As the dawn of a new year breaks, Kenya finds itself grappling with a grim reality that demands our immediate attention and collective action. The unsettling surge in femicide cases within the first few days of 2024 casts a dark shadow over our society, forcing us to confront the deeply ingrained issues of violence against women that persist in our nation.
The recent brutal murder of Scarlet Wahu paints a harrowing picture of a society, where femicide has become disturbingly prevalent, and the deafening silence from our leaders is equally disconcerting.
Wahu's brutal murder in a South B short-stay rental apartment, popularly known as Airbnb; the mutilated body of a 24-year-old woman found off TRM Drive; the discovery of unidentified woman with stab wounds in Lucky Summer and the body of a woman in Magarini, all of these incidents point to a disturbing pattern of gender-based violence that demands our immediate attention.
In the age of social media, these heinous crimes are not only reported but discussed and dissected by the public. The conversations online, however, reveal a deeply concerning aspect of our society's mindset.
Victim-blaming, dehumanisation and the justifications of violence against women have become commonplace. Regrettably, instead of standing in solidarity against femicide, certain individuals choose to perpetuate harmful narratives that contribute to the normalisation of these atrocities.
Femicide is not an isolated issue. It is a symptom of a broader problem, which has been accepted, justified and tolerated for far too long. The normalisation of violence, even in death, is an alarming reflection of societal attitudes towards gender. It goes beyond the act of murder; it is about a deeply-rooted culture that devalues and disrespects the lives of women.
Amidst the rising tide of murders, the silence from our women representatives is deafening. None of them has spoken out on this matter. The absence of a strong, unified response from our leaders sends a dangerous message. It signals a lack of urgency and a failure to acknowledge the gravity of the situation. We need leaders who will champion the cause of women's safety, not ones who remain silent when their voices are needed the most.
It is high time we dismantle the toxic culture that allows perpetrators to escape accountability by shifting blame onto the victims.
Femicide should be declared a matter of national concern. It is not a women's issue. It is a societal issue that demands a collective response. Advocating against femicide does not undermine the existence of violence against men. It is about acknowledging the specific threats and challenges that women face and taking proactive steps to address them. This crime is a symptom of a society in distress, and until we collectively acknowledge it as a crisis, we will continue to lose our mothers, sisters and daughters to the scourge of gender-based violence.
It is time for our leaders to break their silence, for society to reject victim-blaming narratives and for each Kenyan to stand against femicide. Only through collective action can we hope to create a society where every woman can live free from the fear of violence.
The writer is an officer at the Media Council of Kenya (Research Planning and Strategy)