THE BRUTALITY AGAINST WOMEN

By Sharon Muthoni Gatebi

Femicide is not a new term as it encompasses of many various forms of violence,honor-killings and even dowry related-deaths. This vicious acts are driven by cultural norms that perpetuate gender inequality and even related toxic masculinity.

The World Health Organization according to the reports made in 2020 stated that kenya is the country that experiences more femicide in Africa than any other country. It estimated that 47 women are killed every week making an averagd of 50%. The report also stated that most of this vicious acts are as a result if social factors such as close relationships of the victim and the killers and also cultural factors this makes the situation very alarming.

Home is a known traditional refuge for women but it has later transformed to become an unsafe place for women and even young girls. Approximately 72% of the femicide that take place are mostly confined at home. Most of the victims and the perpetrators shared this space which could mean that they were couples cohabiting or even in situations where the victims were frequent residents.

According to Tuko Tv show a girl by the name Faith Ngina who was only of the age of 18 became a victim of the brutal killings where she was killed by her step father because she was involved in a romantic relationship with a gentle man by the name Newton Kimaru. The step father who exceeded the girls punishment at home by beating her endlessly and killing her just because she had decided to visit her lover.

The betrayal runs deep when the women and girls are killed by there loved ones and people they put there trust in. According to reports given by Citizen tv a victim by the name Lilian Achieng who was 33 year old was allegedly killed by her boyfriend in kahawa west. The woman was found at her boyfriend's house with injuries on her face and stabbed wounds on her back.

On 10th December 2024 which was Human Rights Day there was a march that took place in Nairobi this was a result of the increase of femicide cases in the country .The march was a part of 16 days of Activism against Gender based violence what drew concerns on that day is that the peaceful protestors were arrested and the police fired tear gas on them.

People protested about the killings of women and stated that the government should do something." The challenge is in the implementation and that those who commit the acts of inhumanity are not accounted for leading to more murders happening in the country", said the member of parliament Millie Adhiambo.

The president ,William Ruto ,also pledged a 100 million shillings for the safe home spaces to curb femicide in kenya during the 16 days activism.

Women and girls should be able to walk freely and no fear of loosing there lives they should be able to enjoy all the resources like the rest. The government should ensure that this perpetrators are arrest and justice should be given to those who lost there lives through the heinous acts.

The Government of Kenya has put on measures to prevent and ensure accountability for femicide by training and supporting the National Police Service and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution to investigate and prosecute cases of gender-based violence.

The Non -governmental organisations also play a critical role in preventing femicide by raising awareness against gender based violence, advocating for policy changes, educating the community on healthy relationships and also they provide support services for the survivors.