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    • IFAD calls for urgent action to end femicide
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    IFAD calls for urgent action to end femicide

    Online Niel Posted on

    Fida Deputy Executive Director Janet Onyango speaks during a press conference in Nairobi on October 29, 2024

    The Kenya Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) has called for urgent action to end the worrying trend of femicide in the country.

    Speaking during a press conference in Nairobi on Tuesday, Fida and other lobbyists urged law enforcement agencies to act and bring the perpetrators to justice.

    The deputy executive director of the federation, Janet Onyango, has expressed concern over the rising rates of femicide in the country.

    “This violence against women is characterized as appalling, highlighting the urgency of addressing the systemic issues that threaten the safety and well-being of women and girls across the country,” Onyango said.

    Onyango said these acts of violence are in direct violation of the constitutional guarantees enshrined in the 2010 Constitution of Kenya, which affirm the right to life and liberty and security of individuals.

    She argued that the current spate of femicide cases is not just a series of isolated incidents but a systemic crisis that requires immediate and comprehensive responses from the government.

    The lobbies referred to specific cases that shocked the nation, especially the gruesome murders of Starlet Wahu and the victims in Kware, Embakasi.

    Onyango said these cases have gained significant media attention, particularly due to the involvement of Collins Jumaisi, the main suspect, who has escaped from police custody and remains at large.
    LSK Vice President Mwaura Kabata said the incident raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the police, who have yet to provide a comprehensive account of how Jumaisi managed to escape and what steps are being taken to recapture him.
    “The perceived lack of urgency and accountability on the part of law enforcement is seen as a failure to protect citizens, especially women, from violent crime,” Kabata said.
    Kabata said police laxity and failure to take serious action against perpetrators contributes to a culture of impunity, undermining confidence in the justice system.
    “The deaths of these women are not just statistics, they represent innocent lives tragically cut short, leaving families distraught,” Kabata said.
    “In 2024, FIDA-Kenya reported at least 30 cases of women who died from intimate partner violence and femicide, reflecting a disturbing trend of domestic violence,” they said.
    Fida president Christine Kungu pointed out that many of these cases remain underreported, illustrating a widespread problem that has not received the attention it deserves.
    “This under-reporting, coupled with the slow pace of investigations, is seen as a denial of justice for victims and their families, further entrenching a cycle of violence against women,” Kungu said.

    The officials, in their joint statement, acknowledged that femicide and domestic violence are manifestations of deep-rooted issues related to gender inequality and societal attitudes towards women.

    “Every individual deserves to live in an environment free from violence and fear and should have the right to go about their lives without threats,” they said.

    Now they are calling President William Ruto to declare femicide a national crisis and assure the public that his administration is actively working to protect Kenyan women.

    They further called on the President to direct the National Police Service to provide a detailed status report on ongoing investigations within 14 days.

    The lobbies want the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to give an update on the status of investigations into the femicide cases, including the circumstances in which Jumaisi escaped.

    “We emphasize the need for an expedited prosecution of these cases to bring justice to the victims and their families,” the statement read in part.

    They further called for the immediate appointment of a gender cabinet secretary to coordinate a multi-sectoral approach to the prevention of femicide.

    Finally, the group called for concrete action against gender-based violence in the country.

    They said that with the 16 days of activism against GBV approaching, the government should implement actionable strategies quickly



    address the issues raised.

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