Waiguru calls for formation of special police unit to deal with femicide

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has called for the formation of a special police unit within the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to deal with rising cases of femicide in the country.

Waiguru said the unit within the existing structure of DCI will help in probing and stopping the ongoing killings of women in the country.

While terming femicide as the most extreme manifestation of violence against women, the Governor, however, said a long-term solution to the killings of women and girls must be found.

She said the widely-reported discovery of killings of women across the country is shocking and highlighted an ever-worsening national femicide crisis.

Speaking at St. Mary’s ACK Church Ngariama in Gichugu Sub-County, during the thanksgiving service for the area MCA and County Assembly Majority Leader Daniel Muriithi Kibinga, the Governor said all government agencies must act fast to prevent further escalation of the killings.

“We thank the President because he has taken some action and we are also asking for a long-term solution to these issues and a comprehensive assessment of what going on in our society needs. The cause of these killings needs to be looked at so that we can reduce cases of femicide and gender-based violence,” she said.

Waiguru said as Kenya marks the 16 days of gender activism, the country should not be witnessing an escalation of femicide or gender-based violence and called for a concerted effort to reverse the trend.

The Governor said other players in the justice sector also needs to create special units to deal with the matter so as to ensure justice for the victims.

“Gender-based violence has no place in our society, we are hoping during those 16 days of activism this coming week, we will have proposals and solutions that will give us a comprehensive plan that will provide us lasting solution to the femicide and gender-based violence,” Waiguru said.

At the same time, Waiguru has asked MCAs to shun divisive politics and focus on delivering their promises to the electorates.

She said divisions among the MCA could affect delivery of services to the people.