Lobby groups want Ruto to declare femicide a national disaster

Kenyan women and human rights organizations match along the streets of Nairobi to protest against the rising femicide cases in the country. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

Several institutions in Kenya have urged President William Ruto to declare femicide a national crisis and disaster.

In a joint statement on Tuesday, October 29, the organisations have called on the president to issue a national address, assuring women and girls of his commitment to their safety. 

The institutions involved include the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Kenya), Siasa Place, and the Kibera Social Justice Centre.

"The president should officially declare femicide a national crisis and disaster, assuring the public that his administration is actively working to protect women and girls across the country. We demand that he instruct the National Police Service to release a comprehensive report on the status of femicide investigations within 14 days," said FIDA. 

The lobby groups also want the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Director of Public Prosecutions to update the public on the whereabouts of Collins Jumaisi, the prime suspect in the Kware murders. 

Jumaisi has been at large since he escaped police custody in August. The DCI has since offered a cash reward for information leading to his capture.

Additionally, they called on the president to appoint a Gender Cabinet Secretary, a role that has remained vacant since the dismissal of all Cabinet Secretaries in July. 

"This is the only cabinet position still unfilled following the president's recent appointments.” 

FIDA further stated it has documented at least 30 cases of women who have died due to domestic violence or femicide this year. 

Last week, 22-year-old Vivian Kajaya, a student at Mount Kenya University, was found murdered in Kiamunyi, Nakuru, while 23-year-old Seth Nyakio Njeri was discovered dead in a house in Biafra, Thika, Kiambu County.