Kenya faces a femicide crisis with 100 women killed in 4 months

Kenya is grappling with a rise in femicide cases, sparking calls for urgent action from leaders, civil society, and citizens. According to Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, 100 women have been murdered in just four months, from August to November 2024.

Mudavadi revealed during a press briefing on Thursday that investigations into 97 of these cases are complete, while others remain in court. He also shared that 7,107 cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) were reported between September 2023 and December 19, 2024.

“The elephant in the room in the security sector is the worrying trend of femicide cases which have brought to fore the violations of the rights of women in particular,” he said.

Recent incidents highlight the seriousness of the issue. For instance, three family members—Dahabo Daud Said, 38, Amina Abdirashid Dahir, 22, and Nusayba Abdi Mohammed, 13—were brutally murdered. Their bodies were found dumped in separate locations across Nairobi and Machakos, with Dahabo’s hands severed.

In another case, 23-year-old Seth Nyakio Njeri was found dead in her friend's house in Thika on October 14.

To address the crisis, the government has approved the formation of a presidential working group. This group will involve religious leaders, schools, security agencies, and parents to find solutions by identifying gaps in laws, enforcement, and societal values.

President William Ruto has urged security agencies to step up efforts to curb femicide. The Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA) has also condemned the alarming rise in cases.

Mark Owuor, FIDA-Kenya’s head of communications, described the trend as a gross violation of women’s rights and evidence of systemic failure to protect women in the country.