Femicide a concern as 16 Days of Activism against GBV begin

Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital staff participate in the 16 Day of Activism against Gender Based Violence in Eldoret. [File, Standard]

As Kenya joins the rest of the world in marking the beginning of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), rising cases of femicide continue being a point of concern.

 Principal Secretary for Gender and Affirmative Action, Anne Wang’ombe, launched a series of initiatives aimed at addressing the persistent issue of GBV.

The official event will be marked Makueni county, with the Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi leading the charge.

In an awareness campaign held in Nairobi, Wang’ombe called for concerted efforts, especially from men, to eradicate GBV.

“Men must be at the forefront of this fight. They have a critical role in preventing the tragic loss of lives caused by gender-based violence. This is a shared responsibility, and collective action is key,” she emphasised.

She also revealed that on average, 4,000 cases of GBV are reported in hospitals every month, highlighting the gravity of the issue. “In recent times, we have faced an alarming increase in femicide cases across the country. This has to stop. We must work together as a society to end this scourge,” she added.

Speaking on the decision to launch the 16 Days of Activism in Makueni County, Wang’ombe explained, “We chose Makueni because it is one of the counties with a high number of reported cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). This underscores the urgent need for intervention and collaboration to protect survivors and prevent further occurrences,”she noted.

She highlighted the ongoing collaboration between the State Department of Gender, law enforcement agencies, and religious leaders to ensure a multifaceted approach to addressing GBV.

“As a State department, we are working with police and religious leaders to ensure this issue is tackled properly and comprehensively.’’

This campaign comes on the heels of President William Ruto’s donation of Sh100 million toward the fight against GBV. The funds are expected to support critical initiatives aimed at prevention, awareness creation, and support for GBV survivors.

In a parallel effort to empower women, the PS held a meeting with women stakeholders in Nairobi. The meeting focused on advancing the Women in Power programme, an initiative aimed at integrating women into leadership positions across sectors.

“This summit is a critical step towards mobilising women leaders and addressing systemic challenges they face. Women have the power to inspire and lead change, and through initiatives like this, we are creating opportunities for them to realise their full potential,” she stressed.

16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence is an annual international campaign to raise awareness and inspire action against violence toward women and girls. This year’s activities will amplify efforts to foster a safer society while celebrating the potential of women to drive meaningful societal transformation.