Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has directed that all suspects reported to police stations for gender-based violence be subjected to the full force of the law.
Mudavadi in a statement issued on Monday, November 25, 2024, in his capacity as acting Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Interior condemned the rising cases of femicide in the country and across the world.
“As we mark the beginning of the ’16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence,’ I stand united with the global community in condemning, in the strongest terms, any form of violence against women and girls both in Kenya and around the world,” the statement reads in part.
Mudavadi on femicide cases
Mudavadi pointed out that 150 known femicide cases had been recorded in Kenya in 2023 alone.
He stated that the figures demand immediate, decisive action to end the crisis.
“The statistics are heartbreaking. Globally, a woman loses her life every 10 minutes. Here in Kenya, Femicide Count Kenya recorded 150 known femicides in 2023 alone. These figures are not just numbers; they represent lives tragically cut short, and they demand immediate, decisive action to end this crisis. The time to act against gender-based violence is now,” Mudavadi stated.
He went ahead to call upon the police and security forces to take swift action to ensure the safety and security of women and girls in the country, noting that no more acts of violence should go unanswered.
“I envision a Kenya where our girls and women are not only safe but also respected – a society where they can live dignified lives, free from fear of violence in any form. As the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture, Arts, and Heritage, and the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, I call upon our police and security forces to take swift action to ensure the safety and security of our women and girls. No more lives should be lost, and no more acts of violence should go unanswered,” the statement reads.
“Under the theme ‘UNITE! Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls,’ I am directing that all suspects reported to police stations for gender-based violence be subjected to the full force of the law. Let me be clear, there must be no tolerance for negotiations or settlements that undermine justice for survivors.”
16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. pic.twitter.com/GbfpC30obW
— Musalia W Mudavadi (@MusaliaMudavadi) November 25, 2024
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Mudavadi’s statement comes as the world marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
In his State of the Nation address on November 21, 2024, President William Ruto acknowledged that gender-based violence (GBV) had reached crisis levels, demanding urgent national attention.
To address the menace, Ruto tasked Deputy President Kithure Kindiki with formulating radical affirmative actions within six months.