MPs urge state to declare femicide national disaster

Mukurwe-ini MP John Kaguchia and his Kipipiri counterpart Wanjiku Muhia addressing the media at Parliament on November 4, 2024, over the alarming killings of women. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

A section of legislators want the government to declare the rising cases of femicide in the country a national disaster.

They said in the same way that the government has tackled banditry, it should direct security agencies to focus on ensuring the well-being of women in the country.

Mukurweini MP John Kaguchia and Kipipiri MP Wanjiku Muihia who addressed Journalists at Parliament buildings Monday asked the government to ensure perpetrators of the heinous crimes face justice.

“We strongly condemn the increased cases of femicide in the country, every woman in this nation deserves to live a life free of gender-based violence and fear, no woman’s life should be taken away on account of their gender, “said Kaguchia.

The Mukurweini MP called on Kenyans to fight other vices that are also the root cause of gender-based violence and murder, like drugs and substance abuse, pornography, social media abuse, and cyberbullying.

Muihia regretted that parents now fear sending their children to the shop for fear that they may be killed, defiled, or abducted and emphasized that no woman should be subjected to a society that undermines their existence.

The Kipipiri MP said that women are the backbone of society and drive the development agenda hence all efforts and resources should be mobilised to end the senseless murders.

“The government through its security agencies must bring the perpetrators to justice, the police must enforce the laws that govern women’s rights, Kenya does not have deficiency of laws, legal framework and institutions that support this fight," said Muihia.

He urged the public to look out for each other and the civil society and international organisations to condemn the murders and demand for justice.

Muihia asked schools to empower girls to call out gender-based violence.

The two MPs called on religious organisations to condemn the inequalities in the society and patriarchal structures that frustrate women.

The lawmakers promised to craft laws to protect the dignity of women.

President William Ruto while addressing faithful at the Africa Divine Church in Nairobi on Sunday decried rising cases of femicide and committed to end the vice and protects women.

“The police will be equipped to handle the criminal aspect of femicide cases while parents and the society should deal with the moral aspect to ensure the safety of our women and girls since the rising cases of killings and rape are worrying,” said Ruto.