NAIROBI, KENYA – Hundreds of people gathered in Nairobi on Saturday to march against the alarming rise of femicide in Kenya. The recent murder of over a dozen women has shocked the nation, prompting the protesters to take to the streets of the capital.
The campaigners carried placards with powerful messages such as “Being a woman should not be a death sentence” and “Patriarchy kills”, while others displayed names and photographs of the victims. They chanted “Stop killing us” as they made their way towards parliament, causing a halt in Nairobi’s central business district.
According to media reports, at least 16 women have been killed in Kenya this year. These incidents have brought attention to the issue of violence against women, which the government has acknowledged as a rising concern.
In one particularly high-profile case, a 26-year-old woman was tragically killed at a short-term rental flat by a suspect affiliated with an extortionist gang that targets women through dating sites. This case has garnered widespread attention and sparked outrage among the public.
Another distressing incident involved a 20-year-old woman who was strangled, dismembered, and her remains stuffed into a plastic bag. While two men are in police custody in connection with the case, they have yet to be charged.
Amnesty International’s Kenya chapter described femicide as the most brutal manifestation of gender-based violence, emphasizing that it should never be normalized. The human rights group has called for swift investigations and the prosecution of the perpetrators.
The protest attracted individuals of all ages, including Terry Wangare, a communications officer who stated, “Nobody cares. If you complain, you are bad.” Additionally, 23-year-old student Faith Claire Wanjiru expressed her anger and vowed not to tolerate such violence.
The issue of femicide is not isolated, as government data shows that over 30% of women in Kenya experience physical violence, and 13% face some form of sexual violence. Non-profit organization Femicide Count recorded at least 152 cases of femicide in Kenya last year, highlighting the severity of the issue. Furthermore, in 2022, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime reported that 725 women and girls were murdered in the East African country.
The protest in Nairobi serves as a powerful reminder of the urgent need to address the pervasive issue of femicide and violence against women in Kenya.