By Claris Charo
Femicide is not just another kind of violence.
It is an act of killing women and girls deliberately because of their gender.
It’s a form of gender-based violence that is distinct and brutal, deeply rooted in chauvinism and patriarchal structures that seek to control, harm or silence women.
The rising number of femicide cases in Kenya is a cause for great concern, reflecting a disturbing trend in the country where women feel insecure.
The statistics not only show a harsh reality, but also symbolises pervasive issues that require an immediate action.
According to the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI Mohamed Amin, between 2021 and 2024, a total of 94 cases of killings of women and girls were reported to the multi-agency body, and a total of 65 suspects arraigned in various courts across the country in connection with femicide cases.
It is not just a crime against women, but a disregard for their fundamental human rights and a direct attack on the unity of the society.
The death of a woman or a girl means a killed dream – to become a president, lawyer, teacher, mother, wife, governor, senator, MP, doctor, teacher, cleric and so forth.
A 2020 study by the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that Kenya has one of the highest femicide rates in Africa, with estimated 47 women killed every week.
This startling figure reflects 50% rise in femicide cases over the last ten years. Additionally, there are cases that go unnoticed or unreported due to societal and cultural influences, intensifying the gravity of the situation.
Research indicates that people tend to blame victims, because they struggle to accept the idea that good behaviour should be rewarded and bad behaviour be punished.
Conservation on social media about these unfair deaths to women show how we tend to judge and blame the victims as the society.
The more unfair the situation is, the more we try to justify it by blaming the victims. The media plays a big role in making these cases seem more dramatic, and in propagating the idea of victim blame.
As a result, there is not enough pressure from the public to support the victims or punish the people responsible.
Families go through a lot of emotional pain when they lose someone to violence. They mourn and seek justice, but society often forgets and moves on.
This lack of concern has created a dangerous indifference in our society and is weakening the value of the country.
Let’s keep speaking out against violence. Never forget that by staying silent, you, in your individual capacity, help create a world where there is inequality, hatred and the violence of the basic human rights of our family members and friends.
Claris Charo is a Communication and Media Technology student at Maseno University, awaiting graduation. She can be reached on: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
