President William Ruto has announced an all-war-out approach in dealing with cases of femicide in the country.
Speaking on Sunday, November 3, 2024, the Head of State announced that his administration will take all the necessary steps to tackle the issue which is slowly sliding out of hand.
While attributing the rise of femicide cases to moral and criminal issues, Ruto assured the country that his administration is ready to empower law enforcement officers to track down perpetrators of these heinous acts.
“I have listened to you keenly and it’s true our women are being killed anyhow. These are people who we should be showing love to them.”
“How can it be that our girls, the women of Kenya that expect us to love them, that now they are dying in the hands of men?”
“We have a criminal problem and a moral problem we need to address both of them. As a government, I want to promise you that we will go out of our way, to provide resources for our police to deal with this challenge,” he added.
Moral issue
At the same time, Ruto challenged Kenyans to take responsibility in addressing the moral issue which he noted is among those contributing to the rise in femicide cases in the country.
The Head of State directed parents to take a front seat and start addressing the issue of morality by instilling accepted virtues in their children.
Ruto shared the same message to all Kenyans asking them to take responsibility and help identify those targeting women in the society instead of pointing an accusing finger at the government.
“But equally as parents starting with myself… as Kenyans, we must also deal with the moral issue. Let us not point fingers on who should do what, we should also begin by saying what will I do,” Ruto reiterated.
His assurance comes after various leaders who accompanied him to a church service in Nairobi pleaded with him to take a firm stance against femicide.
Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika pleaded with the Head of State to declare femicide a national crisis.
“I wish you could declare it a national crisis because all the women that have been murdered this year alone are something we have never experienced before,” Kihika stated.
She lamented that women were now feeling unsafe even to go to their religious institutions alone for fear of being attacked.
Police data
According to a recent report by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Eliud Langat, at least 97 women have been killed in the last three months.
Addressing the media, the police boss raised alarm on the increased insecurity cases urging Kenyans to collaborate with the security agencies in tackling gender-based violence in society.
“Murders against women have increased, with 97 cases having been reported in the last three months,” Eliud Langat said during the press briefing on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at the National Police Headquarters.
“This troubling trend highlights the urgent need for focused action and collaboration to tackle the widespread problem of gender-based violence in society.”
The DIG further disclosed that several suspects of the murders have been arrested and arraigned in court.
