Human rights groups want President Ruto to declare femicide a national disaster

Human rights organisations, including the Federation of Women Lawyers of Kenya (FIDA), now want the rising number of women and girls murdered across the country, which currently stands at 30, to be declared a national disaster.

FIDA, alongside the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and eight other human rights bodies, have faulted the government for failing to address the murders with the seriousness they deserve.

FIDA also intends to introduce femicide as a stand-alone crime within the penal code.

Citizen TV visited a home in Kirinyaga County where a mother's pain was evident as she struggled to watch the casket bearing her late daughter's remains wheeled into the church for her final service.

The late Seth Nyakio, daughter of a Nominated Kirinyaga County MCA, is one of the latest women to meet their demise in a gruesome manner in the recent spate of killings targeting women and girls; she was murdered at a rental house in Thika town.

“In 2024, so far, FIDA-Kenya is aware of at least 30 cases of women who have died at the hands of intimate partners as a result of domestic violence and femicide,” LSK Deputy President Mwaura Kabata said.

Despite these high numbers of deaths, law enforcement agencies now stand accused of being lax in their response.

"These cases have been reported to the National Police Service, but unfortunately, the pace of the investigation is excruciatingly slow,” said the deceased's mother Lucy Njeri.

"The police keep on telling us that no stone will be left unturned, but do you see them turning any stone?" Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru added.

Human rights organisations say the government has not only failed to protect women and girls from such attacks but has also failed to prosecute those suspected of committing these crimes against women.

A case in point is the arrest and mysterious escape of the main suspect in the Kware bodies case, Collins Jumaisi, whose whereabouts remain unknown nearly two months after his escape.

"The National Police Service is yet to issue a comprehensive statement on the circumstances that led to his escape and steps towards his re-arrest and prosecution, given the gravity of the charges he is facing. We maintain that the laxity and lack of commitment by the National Police Service to take serious action against perpetrators, including in this instance, amounts to aiding and abetting the crimes,” stated FIDA board secretary Angela Mwadumbo.

Now, the organisations want this issue addressed by the highest office in the land.

"The President should officially declare femicide a national crisis and a disaster, assuring the public that this administration is actively working to protect women and girls across the nation. We demand that he directs the National Police Service to issue a comprehensive communiqué on the status of the investigations within the next 14 days,” Mwadumbo stated.

Besides that, the organisations also want the President to appoint a gender cabinet secretary, provide adequate updates on investigations into femicide cases, and take concrete action to address overall gender-based violence.

In the meantime, the organisations say they will be taking the battle to the legal field.

"FIDA-Kenya is committed to advancing legislative reforms to introduce femicide as a stand-alone crime within the Penal Code,” Mwadumbo. added.

The government has 30 days to act or face protests by women and girls that will be organised by these human rights bodies.