Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Daily Nation
Published on 2024-01-26 17:28:06
Women and feminist groups in Kenya are planning a nationwide protest on Saturday, 27th January to march against the growing cases of femicide. The protest, dubbed ‘Feminists March Against Femicide’, will take place in 11 counties in Kenya, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Homa Bay, Turkana, Kilifi, Machakos, Kisii, and Nyeri. This action follows a series of gruesome murders of women in the country, including the recent deaths of Starlet Wahu and Rita Waeni.
These murders are just a few examples of the widespread issue of femicide in Kenya. The country has seen an alarming number of femicide cases, including high-profile victims like Sharon Otieno, Ivy Wangeci, Eunice Wangari, and Agnes Tirop. A study by the Africa Data Hub estimates that around 500 femicide victims will occur between 2016 and 2024 in Kenya, demonstrating the seriousness of the problem.
Despite the existence of legal mechanisms to combat femicide in Kenya, perpetrators of intimate partner violence and femicide often go unpunished. This has prompted women in Kenya to mobilize and demand accountability through peaceful protests. On Saturday, women in Kenya will once again take to the streets to raise awareness about the rising cases of femicide, using the hashtag #TotalShutdownKe to organize online.
Several human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have expressed their support for the march against femicide in Kenya. Leaders and government officials, including Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga and Gender Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa, have also voiced their concern and commitment to combatting femicide and gender-based violence in the country.
The President’s Advisor on Women’s Rights, Harriette Chiggai, pledged to push for stiffer penalties for perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence, while the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Gladys Shollei, emphasized the need to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement agencies to combat gender-based violence.
In summary, the planned march in Kenya is a response to the rising cases of femicide and gender-based violence in the country and seeks to bring awareness to the issue while demanding accountability and action from the authorities.
Read the original article on Daily Nation
