The Federation of Women Lawyers-Kenya (FIDA) has called upon President William Ruto to declare femicide a national crisis amid an increase in violence against women.
In a statement on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, FIDA demanded that the president addresses the nation and declare femicide a national crisis and disaster.
In addition, FIDA urged Ruto to assure the public that this administration is actively working to protect women and girls across the nation.
“President Ruto must address the nation and speak to women and girls, providing a clear and unwavering commitment to their right to life, safety and security. The President should officially declare femicide a national crisis and a disaster, assuring the public that this administration is actively working to protect women and girls across the nation,” FIDA demanded.
“We demand that he directs the National Police Service to issue a comprehensive communique on the status of the investigations within the next 14 days.”
FIDA also demanded a detailed public update on the status of investigations and prosecutions of all suspects tied to femicide cases from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
Also, FIDA demanded that investigation bodies give a full explanation regarding the whereabouts of Collins Jumaisi, the main suspect in the Kware dumpsite murders, who remains at large after escaping police custody.
The body also demanded that the Gender Cabinet Secretary spearheads awareness and sensitisation initiatives on evolving issues, such as electronically facilitated gender-based violence (EFGBV), and champion collaborative efforts across government and civil society to address gender-based violence (GBV).
FIDA on femicide
The organisation stated that the brutality of the murders has raised questions on the state of the national security crisis adding that in 2024, the country has reported 30 cases of women who died as a result of gender-based violence.
“In 2024, so far, FIDA-Kenya is aware of at least 30 cases of women who have died in the hands of intimate partners as a result of domestic violence and femicide. The brutality of their murders speaks to a dangerous and unresolved national crisis,” FIDA stated.
According to FIDA, domestic violence and the increasing femicide are acts that should be unequivocally condemned.
Call for action
The organisation further threatened to mobilise countrywide demonstrations demanding women’s safety and justice.
“As FIDA, we maintain that should there be no action within the next 30 days, we will consider other options, including mobilising a nationwide picketing of women to demand our right to safety and justice. We cannot allow femicide to become a normalised part of our society,” the organisation noted.
The organisation further urged the parliament and the judiciary to support their amendment to ensure that crimes specifically targeting women based on gender are met with appropriate legal consequences and action.
