Femicide in Kenya: A National Crisis

Femicide, or the killing of women because they are women, has become a major crisis in Kenya in recent years. According to data from Femicide Count Kenya, at least 500 women and girls have been murdered since 2016, with 152 killings recorded in 2023 alone - the highest in the past five years. Current and former intimate partners account for approximately 55% of all intimate partner and family-related femicides. The root causes appear to be complex and multifaceted, including social norms enforcing male control over women, high rates of domestic violence, particularly among married women, and lack of effective enforcement of existing laws against gender-based violence. Despite strong legal frameworks, critics say the Kenyan government has failed to adequately address the crisis, leading to calls for more urgent action and the establishment of "femicide" as a separate legal charge from homicide. Civil society organizations and activists are taking matters into their own hands, documenting cases, pushing for greater awareness, organizing nationwide protests, and efforts to shift societal attitudes and combat victim-blaming narratives.