Despite progress in various areas, Kenya continues to grapple with high rates of violence against women. Data from the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey issued by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics show that 34% of women in Kenya have experienced physical violence compared to 27% of men. Statistics from the United Nations Global Database on Violence Against women indicates that; 40.7% of ever-partnered women in Kenya have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence in their lifetime. The numbers are alarmingly high!
The recent cases highlight the severity of the problem, emphasizing the urgent need for a comprehensive examination of its root causes and preventive measures. It is instinctive for the response to femicide and other forms of gender-based violence to be reactive, however following the current trend, a preventive approach would be best. After all it is better to be safe than sorry.
It would be useful to interrogate deep-rooted issues such as cultural norms that perpetuate violence, lack of agency amongst women and insufficient legal protection for women as possible causes for femicide. While there are legal policies and procedures in place and several initiatives geared towards addressing femicides and gender-based violence, there must be deliberate efforts to ensure a coordinated effort across government, civil society, and individuals. The goal is to create a society where women are safe, respected, and free from the threat of violence.
The author is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and a women's rights and reproductive health rights expert