By Winnie Kamau
Nairobi, Kenya: In the heart of Nairobi, a tangible sorrow permeated the air, casting a pall over the once-vibrant city as it grappled with a disconcerting surge in femicide cases. Against this backdrop,a section of women leaders led by the Office of the President’s Advisor on Women’s Rights stood resolute, taking a stand against the escalating violence.
Harriet Chigai, a stalwart champion of women’s rights, addressed the press on a somber Friday, her words piercing the silence like a beacon of hope. With unyielding determination, she called upon the government to confront the pressing issue of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), a menace tightening its grip on the nation.
“We urge our daughters to exercise caution on how and with whom they interact on social platforms. This is because GBV has now taken the form of technologically facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). I want to acknowledge the women’s rights defenders from every ward in the country, the women who have turned up today in solidarity with our fallen sisters, women leaders who have come out in numbers at short notice, and the women who are doing a lot to educate the public on matters of women’s rights. I assure you of my unrelenting quest to ensure that all women are safe,” urged Madam Chigai.
Harriet’s office declared an open-door policy, encouraging the public to step forward with any information that could propel investigations into recent cases. In a society tainted by online shaming, she fervently condemned the practice, advocating for safe spaces where victims could bravely step forward without fear of judgment.
“I reiterate, we witness other people’s storms from the shelter of our own perspectives. Let’s be mindful that we do not add the cold rain of judgment to their already soaked spirits. Let us be sensitive to the families that have lost their loved ones. They need our love and compassion and not rebuke,” she implored.
Adding, “By re-victimizing the dead, we are akin to dancing on the graves of women who have fallen victim to people they trusted. Let us put all our hands on deck from wherever we are to respond to these heinous crimes. Those who are planning to rape and kill our girls, we are putting you on notice, your days are numbered!”
Harriet asserted her words, echoing the sentiment of a nation that had grown weary of the violence against its women. She pleaded for sensitivity in discussions surrounding these cases, emphasizing that the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) required a collective effort.
In a move echoing Harriet’s concerns, various politicians joined in the condemnation.
The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Gladys Boss Shollei also noted with concern over the femicide tragedies reported across the country and also noted that the youngmen were not left out pointing to the tragic murders of Dr. Laban Kiptoo who was murdered outside Nakuru Referral Hospital and the unexplained murder of athlete Benjamin Kiplagat who was found stabbed in his brother’s car in Eldoret town.
“The tragic deaths of young Kenyans, particularly girls, who sought new experiences through social media, have deeply saddened us. These incidents highlight the vulnerabilities in our interconnected world. As a leader and a mother, my heart goes out to the victims’ families” said Shollei.
Others who have weighed on the puzzling murders include Jeremiah Kioni, the Jubilee Party secretary-general, called for heightened security, emphasizing the urgency of the matter. The silence of the government in the face of such atrocities, he stated, was both troubling and unacceptable.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga added his voice to the growing outcry yesterday, refusing to let the abnormality of these murders become the new norm. The deaths of Starlet Wahu and Rita Waeni had sent shockwaves through the country, leaving families and friends in a trail of grief.
The Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) took a bold step, urging President William Ruto to declare femicide and Gender-Based Violence a national disaster. Their statement echoed the sentiments of many, demanding swift action from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Inspector General of Police.
Last week, the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) condemned the increased cases of femicide in the country, as well as the blaming of the women who have been killed. FIDA Kenya Vice Chairperson Christine Kungu expressed deep concern over the rising instances of Violence Against Women (VAW) and Girls, particularly the recent gruesome murder of Starlet Wahu Mwangi.
Kungu highlighted Wahu’s death as a case of VAW in the form of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). “Barely a week later, FIDA-Kenya has learned with shock of the murder of a woman whose body was found at an Airbnb located in Roysambu under circumstances suspected to have been IPV,” Kungu said when addressing the press on Tuesday in Nairobi.
