Rights activists call for gender justice in Kenya

In recent years, the conversation around gender justice in Kenya has gained unprecedented momentum.

From femicide to women's representation in leadership, the issue of gender inequality has moved from the margins of political discourse to the heart of the nation’s debates.

The fight for equal rights, safety, and participation in leadership roles has seen a surge in both grassroots mobilization and institutional advocacy. Yet, despite the growing voices demanding change, progress remains slow.

In a recent gathering at Jacaranda Hotel in Nairobi was a powerful reminder that the conversation is far from over, and that women, men, and marginalized groups continue to fight for a future where justice and equality are more than just ideals, they are lived realities.

The event, which was organized by the Heinrich Böll Stiftung Foundation, brought together women and men passionate about the intersection of gender justice, democracy, and feminist resilience in the ongoing fight for equality.

The keynote speaker, Anne Gathumbi, a renowned feminist human rights lawyer and International development practitioner, explained that feminist resilience is not merely about surviving—it's about thriving and actively working towards a future where women and marginalized groups can truly flourish.

“Feminist resilience is not simply about surviving but about thriving and actively working towards a better future. It involves recognizing and addressing the specific challenges faced by women and other marginalized groups,” she said.

Her words reflected the heart of the feminist struggle and resilience as a force for social transformation, one that has often been at the center of democratic struggles worldwide but remains marginalized.

She also highlighted the important role feminist movements have played in challenging authoritarianism, resisting the politicization of religion, and fighting for the survival of civic space.

“The world over,” she said, “feminist movements that have led demands for democracy face backlash from a rising tide of authoritarianism, religion in political life, and shrinking civic space. Secular institutions are a critical lifeline for feminist movements seeking to hold onto their rights and defend democracy.”

The urgency of the forum reached a peak when Njeri Migwi, the CEO of Usikimye, spoke about femicide and the need to make it a crime in the country. In Kenya, femicide continues to be a rampant issue, often overlooked by the law, and Njeri's passionate address struck a chord with many attendees.

“Femicide is not just a tragic outcome, it is a systematic failure to protect women,” she said. “We can no longer afford to treat femicide as just another statistic. It is time to make it a crime, to ensure that the voices of those who have been silenced are heard, and that justice is served,” she said.

Her words were a reminder that without tangible legal protections, many women remain vulnerable to violence and abuse, and the justice system continues to fail them.

The call to make femicide a distinct crime is growing louder, and the gathering at Jacaranda was a space for building momentum for this critical shift.

The Q&A session opened up new avenues for conversation as women shared their frustrations about the barriers, they face in the leadership sector.

Many expressed their ambitions to vie for leadership positions in the 2027 elections, despite the often-overwhelming obstacles they face in political spaces traditionally dominated by men.

“We are ready to challenge the status quo,” one woman said. “The barriers will not stop us. We will rise.”

For these women, leadership is not merely a position, it is a tool for transforming their communities and advocating for the rights of all marginalized people.

The forum concluded with a sense of resolve those women, men, and non-binary individual must come together to continue pushing for intersectional justice.

The challenges discussed were not just issues for women but a national concern, one that affects the entire fabric of Kenyan society.

Even without the spotlight of mainstream media coverage, the event was an act of quiet revolution—a declaration that the struggle for gender justice is ongoing and that the future will be shaped by those who persist in fighting for a better world.