Activists Now Want Femicide To Be Declared A National Disaster.

Women’s Rights Activists Call for Urgent Action on Femicide in Kenya

Women’s rights groups in Kenya are calling on President William Ruto to declare femicide a national crisis. These activists argue that the growing number of attacks and killings of women—often by intimate partners—requires immediate government intervention.

Calls for Government Action

The Coalition of Grassroots Human Rights Defenders, a prominent advocacy group, made the following demands:

Declare Femicide a National Disaster: Activists want the President to label femicide as a national emergency to mobilize resources and attention.
Speed Up Court Cases: They are asking for quicker handling of cases involving attacks or killings of women to ensure justice is served.

Femicide Statistics and Alarming Trends

A recent police report revealed alarming data about femicide in Kenya:

Rising Deaths: Over a 90-day period, 97 women have been killed.
Urgency Required: Deputy Inspector General of Police, Eliud Lang’at, stressed that if immediate action isn’t taken, the issue could spiral out of control.
Example Case: In January alone, over 10 women were reported as victims of violent attacks or murders.

Divided Views on Femicide as Gender-Based Violence

While activists focus on the gender-specific impact of femicide, some officials offer different perspectives:

Police Position: Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lang’at supports a call for intervention.
DCI Stance: The Director of Criminal Investigations, Mohammed Amin, argued that these crimes do not specifically target women due to their gender but are instead rooted in general criminal motives.

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Appeal to Universities and Colleges

Activist Rachel Mwikali highlighted a disturbing trend: young women in universities and colleges are often victims. She suggests that educational institutions should:

Establish Early Warning Systems: Detect signs of potential gender-based violence early to prevent incidents.
Enforce Strict Policies: Take strong action against anyone involved in violence on campus.

Activists Question Effectiveness of Existing Laws

Mwikali voiced concerns about whether current laws are sufficient to protect women, given the rising cases of femicide. She questioned:

Effectiveness of Laws: Despite laws meant to protect women, femicide cases keep increasing.
Response from Law Enforcement: Mwikali argues that patriarchal attitudes within security agencies hinder serious handling of femicide cases.

Response from Kenyan Leaders

Top Kenyan leaders are taking note of this crisis:

President William Ruto: He supports tougher measures to combat femicide.
Chief Justice Martha Koome: She advocates for stronger and faster actions by law enforcement.\

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