A university student was murdered, and her body dumped in a field. A long-distance Olympic runner died after she was severely burned in a gasoline attack. Additionally, a mother, her daughter, and her niece were tortured and killed, with their mutilated bodies disposed of in various locations.
A series of brutal murders in Kenya in recent months, documented by police and human rights groups, has shocked the nation, leading to increased anger over violence against women and girls and prompting nationwide protests. There are growing calls for authorities to take stronger action to prevent these killings.
According to police, 97 women were murdered from August to October this year, a staggering figure even for Kenya, where femicide has long been a significant issue. In July, bags containing the body parts of women believed to be victims of a serial killer were found in a dump in the capital, Nairobi.
On Tuesday, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Nairobi, demanding government action to stop the killings. Smaller protests occurred in other towns and cities across the country, as reported by human rights groups.
In Nairobi, police used tear gas against demonstrators chanting slogans such as “Stop killing women” and “Women have rights, too.” At least three activists, including the executive director of Amnesty International Kenya, were detained, according to statements from several rights organizations.
The public outcry illustrates the sense of helplessness felt by many women in Kenya and the urgent desire for justice for the victims. Lucy Njeri Mwaniki, whose 23-year-old daughter was raped and strangled, emphasized the need for someone to speak out for the deceased, as the dead cannot advocate for themselves.
Researchers link the rise in killings to economic disparities and deeply ingrained patriarchal attitudes that deny women autonomy. Social media often sees victims blamed for their attire or lifestyles, further complicating the issue.
The femicides in Kenya are indicative of a broader problem across Africa, where over 21,000 gender-related killings of women were documented in 2023, according to a United Nations report. Observers believe the actual numbers are much higher, as femicide is typically perpetrated by male family members or intimate partners, and many victims experience various forms of abuse.
Kenya’s president, William Ruto, recently acknowledged femicide as a “pressing and deeply troubling issue” and announced an allocation of approximately $770,000 for a campaign aimed at supporting victims. However, activists argue that this amount is insufficient to address the crisis adequately.
Rights groups are urging President Ruto to declare femicide a national crisis and allocate more funding for awareness campaigns. They also advocate for legislative measures that would create a special category of crime for gender-motivated killings, imposing severe penalties on offenders.
Activists and victim families assert that police do not pursue femicide cases with the necessary vigor. For example, a suspect arrested for murdering women whose remains were found in a Nairobi dump later escaped custody, reportedly with police assistance.
Caroline Chege, whose daughter died under suspicious circumstances, expressed frustration at the lack of serious attention given to femicide cases. She believes her daughter was murdered and criticized the police for inaction.
Alberta Wambua, executive director of the Gender Violence Recovery Center, noted that their facilities across Kenya treat hundreds of women and girls monthly for various forms of gender-based violence. The organization is working to promote gender equality and respect for women while training police on better evidence collection and suspect apprehension.
Ms. Wambua remarked on the normalization of violence in society, stating, “We now need to teach love.”
Ms. Mwaniki described her close relationship with her daughter, highlighting the devastating impact of the tragedy on her life. She expressed distress over the police's handling of the investigation and the lack of urgency in seeking justice.
She continues to grapple with the pain of her loss, questioning who among the men she sees in public could be her daughter’s killer, and lives in a constant state of grief and unanswered questions.
A spokeswoman for the Kenyan police did not respond to requests for comment.