Faith Nyasuguta
Police in Kenya fired tear gas at protesters in Nairobi on Tuesday during a demonstration against gender-based violence (GBV), commonly referred to as femicide. The peaceful rally, held to demand justice for women, quickly turned chaotic as officers dispersed hundreds of protesters chanting, “Stop femicide.”
The confrontation occurred in a public park, escalating into running battles on nearby streets. Several protesters sustained injuries, and an unknown number were arrested. Activist Mwikali Mueni recounted her ordeal, saying, “It is very sad that I was injured while championing for women not to be injured or killed. If the president is serious about ending femicide, let him start by taking action on the officers who brutalized us today.” Mueni sustained a neck injury and was later hospitalized.
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A SILENT EPIDEMIC
Kenya faces an alarming GBV crisis. According to police statistics, 97 women have been killed since August, many at the hands of their male partners. Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat confirmed this grim reality, equating the data to nearly one woman murdered daily in the past three months.
The Nairobi Women’s Hospital, which runs gender violence recovery centres, reports an equally dire situation. Each month, around 4,000 GBV cases are reported. Dr. Sam Thenya, CEO of the hospital, emphasized the urgency of the crisis, saying, “The economic burden of gender-based violence is enormous on our economy. We must speak against this vice being perpetuated against women and girls. They are our daughters, wives, sisters, and mothers.”
Tuesday’s crackdown is not the first time Kenyan police have used force against anti-femicide protesters. On November 25, during the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, officers tear-gassed a small group of demonstrators who had defied the rain to voice their concerns.
The government has made commitments to address femicide, with President William Ruto recently allocating over $700,000 for a campaign to end GBV. However, activists argue that promises alone are insufficient, especially when suspects in femicide cases are escaping justice.
Protesters on Tuesday highlighted the case of a man who confessed to killing 42 women. The suspect fled police custody after the dismembered bodies of his victims were found in plastic sacks dumped in a flooded quarry. “It’s not fair that we can’t sleep well. You disappear, you come back in a sack,” lamented a protester named Phoebe.
A CALL FOR JUSTICE
Activist Mariam Chande condemned the police response, questioning why peaceful protesters faced violence. “Why are we being beaten and tear-gassed, yet we are peaceful? We will keep coming to the streets till the day women will stop being slaughtered like animals,” she said.
The crisis is further underscored by a November UN report, which revealed that Africa recorded the highest rate of partner-related femicide in 2023. Kenya, which was elected to the UN Human Rights Council in October, now finds its law enforcement agencies under scrutiny for their handling of femicide cases.
With femicide cases and GBV incidents mounting, activists and citizens are calling for accountability, justice, and effective policies to safeguard women’s lives. The urgency of this issue cannot be overstated as Kenya grapples with an epidemic that has left families mourning and communities on edge.
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