Kenya leads 16 days of activism, demands stricter measures against GBV
The Kenyan Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) urged the government to strengthen laws addressing GBV and femicide, emphasizing the need to deter perpetrators and ensure justice for victims.
These celebrations coincide with the world’s approach to the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 2025, a landmark blueprint for achieving gender equality and safeguarding the rights of women and girls.
The anniversary presents an opportunity to renew commitments, demand accountability, and push for decisive action from policymakers.
KEWOPA leaders highlighted specific focus areas, including addressing digital abuse targeting women, eradicating female genital mutilation (FGM), and combating femicide.
Emily Awor, a resident of Kawangware, spoke passionately about the recent rise in violence, referencing a young woman who was brutally murdered and her body abandoned. "We appeal to the government to intervene. We recently lost a girl in Kawangware who was selling watermelons. She was slaughtered and dumped," she said.
Similarly, Dagoretti MP Beatrice Elachi expressed concern over femicide cases in the area, sharing a harrowing account. "In Kawangware, I came across a girl whose organs were removed and her body stitched up. Parents don’t always check closely, but this is what happened," she recounted, emphasizing the gruesome nature of such crimes.
Gender violence survivors also voiced their challenges, calling for safe spaces and mental health support for victims. Valerie Aura, a survivor of GBV, stressed the need for better infrastructure to support those in violent situations. "Survivors fear speaking out because they lack places to seek refuge or mental support. If we have well-equipped safe houses offering these services, it would truly help," she said.
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru underscored the need for specialized investigative units to handle femicide cases. "The issue of femicide should have a dedicated unit within existing institutions, such as the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, given its complexity, especially when it involves young people," Waiguru noted.
In Kisii County, lobby and civil society groups took to the streets, jamming major roads and chanting anti-femicide slogans to sensitize the public on ways to reduce cases of gender-based violence.
Stakeholders across the country emphasized that stricter measures, better enforcement of laws, and community awareness are vital in addressing the rising cases of gender-based violence. The campaign continues as Kenya joins the world in advocating for an end to GBV and the protection of women and girls.
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