IN Kenya, the escalating epidemic of violence against women continues to claim lives unabated, with advocates pointing to entrenched patriarchy and societal attitudes as root causes. High court advocate Benta Moige emphasises the prevailing mindset that views women as lesser beings, fostering impunity for perpetrators.
‘Women are taken as people who do not have rights or are supposed to adhere to some social constructs… that expose them to violence,’ Moige highlights.
Moige’s remarks come amid discussions surrounding Kenya’s crisis of femicide, marked by deliberate gender-based killings of women and girls. As the world observes another International Women’s Day, Kenya’s women are calling for decisive action to end femicide in the nation.
Despite existing laws to combat gender-based violence, including the Protection Against Domestic Violence Act of 2016, the problem persists, fuelling mass protests and outcry. Official government data remains scant, but research from organizations like Femicide Count Kenya and Africa Data Hub paints a grim picture, estimating over 500 murders of women since 2016, with many cases going unreported.
‘Enough is enough. People have been unwilling to move away from those social constructs, and that is why women have been finding themselves in situations where they are killed,’ Moige asserts.
Intimate partner violence (IPV) emerges as a significant contributor to femicide, with perpetrators often being acquaintances or family members. Recent cases, like the tragic murder of 26-year-old Starlet Wahu by her boyfriend, have sparked national outrage, reigniting calls for stricter laws and enhanced protection mechanisms.
‘The issue is even worse because femicide is being branded as if it is a morality issue on the women’s end,’ women’s rights activist Wambui Muchiri stresses.
Mary Njeri, a gender-based violence analyst at UN Women, stresses that these killings are not isolated incidents but symptomatic of societal acceptance of violence against women, deeply rooted in harmful patriarchal attitudes.
‘While femicide is being justified as a moral issue, it’s crucial to recognize that there are murderers out here who are targeting women and killing them,’ Muchiri adds.
The normalization of violence poses systemic challenges, particularly in rural areas where resources are scarce. Weak enforcement of laws and cultural attitudes perpetuate gender inequality, creating an environment where femicide is tolerated.
‘We cannot simply wait for the next tragic headline,’ Moige asserts. ‘We need a comprehensive and sustained approach that tackles the root causes of femicide. We have to empower women and hold the perpetrators accountable.’
While some, like taxi driver James Mwangi, espouse traditional views justifying male control over women, a growing number, including university student Daniel Kipkirui, reject such beliefs, advocating for dignity and respect for women.
Women’s rights organisations and civil society groups are pushing for increased government investment in law enforcement, support services, and stricter legislation to address femicide comprehensively.
As Kenya marks International Women’s Day, the call for action grows louder in the pursuit of a society free from violence against women.