Femicide: A Growing Crisis in Kenya

By Ilhan Ismael

In a heart-wrenching turn of events, a mother, her daughter, and her niece were killed on October 22nd, 2024, only for their lifeless bodies to be found the next day in three different locations. 

This incident has spread fear and grief across the victims' families and the country at large. Speaking at the City Mortuary where they had gone to identify the bodies, the family of Amina Abdirashid Dahir and Nusuiba Dahir sadly narrated their last encounter with their loved ones.

"Our aunt, Warifu, went to check on her skin. They waited until 5 PM, but she had still not returned. They decided to go look for her," stated Sumeya Noor, cousin of the two sisters, during an interview with Citizen TV.

The gruesome killings of the three, which police confirm were carried out in the same manner, point to a single perpetrator.

This tragic incident is the latest in a string of femicide cases that have shocked the nation. In a different incident, three days before this case, a 24-year-old, Christine Nyakio, disappeared from her home in Ngong. Her body was later on found dumped in a swamp.

Kenyans had barely recovered from the violent killing of Mercy Kwamboka, a 20-year-old University of Nairobi student. On 28th September 2024, her half-naked and mutilated body was retrieved from a thicket in Mwiki.

The victims are not just numbers but human beings. They were young girls with bright futures and dreams yet to become a reality but sadly, had to meet a horrific fate, demise at the hands of a fellow human being. A femicide. 

The trauma lingers, not just for the families of the victims but for a nation grappling with rising violence against women. Statistics from Africa Data Hub show how extreme this form of gender violence on women has become. The database meticulously examined news reports from reputable Kenyan sources, compiling over 500 femicide cases spanning from January 2016 to December 2023. 

The data further reveals that 75% of killings were committed by a person who knew the murdered victim - an intimate partner, relative, or friend. A recent example is that of the Ugandan athlete and Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei, who died in September 2024 in Eldoret, Kenya, after being set on fire by her ex-boyfriend.

The data was backed up by Esther Achieng Okech, a human rights expert. "Intimate partners are the primary cause of femicide. It starts with forms of Gender Based Violence such as SGBV(Sexual and Gender-based violence) as first indicators. If nothing is done in time, we end up with extreme consequences, in this case, femicide," she stated.

Esther Achieng Okech, human rights expert 

Esther notes "Society's patriarchal mindset devalues women, perpetuating violence. Communities need initiatives that will empower women to recognize and escape abuse," 

"The government has initiated projects to support GBV victims by offering affordable housing and safe spaces. Awareness campaigns are primarily focused on campuses. Additionally, the Triple Threat project addresses the needs of GBV victims, pregnant women, and adolescents," she adds.

Unfortunately for most of these victims, justice is yet to be served. Achieng states that only 1 out of 5 victims is granted justice. While investigations are said to be underway, the perpetrators of these atrocities are still roaming free.  

For instance, the escape of suspected serial killer Collins Jumaisi Khalusha on 20th August 2023, casts a dark shadow over the justice system's handling of such cases. The 33-year-old man allegedly confessed to the police that he lured in and then killed 42 women before dumping their remains at a Nairobi quarry dumpsite in Mukuru. 

Detectives, who described Khalusha as "a vampire, a psychopath", said they found several mobile phones, identity cards, a machete, industrial rubber gloves, rolls of Sellotape, and nylon bags, which they took into evidence. His escape from police custody adds another layer of injustice to an already broken system.

Femicide is a tragedy that extends beyond individual loss; it is a societal crisis that demands urgent attention. Addressing it is no longer a question of "if" but of "how." We must collectively confront the systemic violence faced by women in Kenya. 

It not only includes acknowledging the problem but also actively working towards solutions. That includes policy change, community education on gender equality, and providing support for victims and their families.