Femicide is not a normal crime, it's a national disaster

Listening to the security authorities speak about femicide cases in Kenya gives the impression that they have not yet appreciated the enormity of this monster. The police do not want us to associate the close to 100 women murdered over the past 90 days with femicide, insisting that a number of those cases were just normal crimes. That statement is quite casual. Unless we have 97 investigation reports clearly detailing the motive of each incident and with all the culprits apprehended, we cannot join them in that conclusion.

It is clear that the female gender has become an easy target for the most gruesome of murders, mostly perpetrated by men. The worst bit of the statistics is that a good percentage of the cases are associated with intimate partners who turn into monsters. Generally, members of the female gender are targeted for both their emotional and physical vulnerability.

Femicide cases are more often a direct consequence of gender-based violence cases that have remained unmitigated despite the efforts being made through policy and law. In 2004, the government launched gender desks in all police stations. The desks were meant to provide a safe haven for victims to report any threats to their lives. However, several years later, they clearly have not survived to serve that function. In some of the stations, these desks have completely collapsed or never existed as a serious office worth noting. 

These desks are particularly important in addressing intimate partner violence. Femicide cases as a result of intimate partner violence are characterized by a progression of domestic issues that can be resolved if reported and effectively handled. One way of doing that is by making the police station an attractive place for either gender to not just report incidents but also to be heard and understood. That means the gender desk must not be adequately resourced and manned by an officer with extra qualifications in guidance and counselling.

Picture this: following the gruesome murder of one Scarlet Wahu in the beginning of the year, many women came forth and confirmed to have encountered the key suspect, John Matara. In those cases, their lives were clearly in danger. If just one of those cases had been investigated properly, Wahu may not have had to encounter him. It could be that perpetrators have been emboldened by the slow wheels of justice.

But this is not just a security issue but also a social issue. Key members of society, such as teachers and religious leaders, must regain their trust and become voices of reason. They must weed out those among them that have broken the trust.

The social fabric that has been torn apart must be repaired. We must remind each other that when we are talking about women, we are actually talking about our mothers, sisters and daughters. We must appeal to people’s consciences on this matter. Men must know that their cardinal role in society is to protect women and children and not to hurt or kill them.