25^th November being the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, marks the commencement of the 16 days of activism against all forms of gender-based violence against women and girls. During this period, collective voices are raised to air the plight of women and girls calling for the end of all forms of gender-based violence to include, physical, emotional and psychological against them. In addition, states are especially tasked with putting in place effective measures to curb the increase of GBV and to eliminate the same in totality. Unfortunately, we have not been successful in curbing these vices in totality as more and more cases of GBV to include SGBV continue to be reported, this is despite the fact of having in places laws that address some of these unfortunate issues.

What is more concerning to me as the 16 days commence, is the nature in which femicide cases are being addressed in this country. Femicide, the intentional killing of women based on their gender, becomes one of the worst forms of gender-based violence women and girls experience. Femicide Count Kenya, an organisation dedicated to tracking femicide cases in Kenya, recorded that at least 500 women were victims of femicide between 2017 and 2024. Although this is what has been reported, there is a likelihood that there are more cases which have not been brought to light. This is year alone, in three months between August and October it was reported that 97 women had been killed. In a period of three months, that is a very significant number and cannot just be ignored. The discovery of women’s decomposing and dismembered bodies in Kware area, Mathare was harrowing. The recent attempted murder of Florence Wanjiku in Nakuru County, having been stubbed 18 times and her some of the fingers chopped of depicts a picture of society that cares less about women and the violence they endure.

Women in this country and those who care about women’s rights have marched, held rallies, drafted petitions and even started movements to address and end femicide in the country. Despite the call to have femicide declared a national disaster, the same remains to be seen, a mirage at a distance. One of the asks and which I support fully is the criminalisation of femicide in totality, the same is yet to be fully addressed. It is rather unfortunate that despite calls for action to be taken, women and girls have been killed while their perpetrators continue to walk free. Where is the justice for all those women who have lost their lives in some very inhumane ways. For those prosecuted and convictions upheld, have been a result of collective noise from the public and civil society. People cannot seat back, arms folded while victims have no justice and families left with deep wounds, they only are aware of. We need to see more prosecution of perpetrators of femicide even as we discuss its criminalisation. The numbers mentioned above are actual women, not just figures, whose lives were cut short because someone felt they could. It cannot be business as usual as such atrocities continue being witnessed in our present times.

The appointment of the 12 members committee to develop policies on femicide in sports and the country is rather reactionary rather purposeful, this can be viewed as the sacrifice offered to appease the ‘gods’. Femicide is not a foreign concept in Kenya, it has been present. Unfortunately, despite this fact, little to nothing has been done to curb it and especially from the states side. The development of polices and laws is one thing and the implementation is another. There is need for clear and proper commitment from the government, all arms of it, to comprehensively address femicide once and for all. Women are tired of marching and demanding for the respect and protection of their human rights, they can only shout so loud and jump so high. We cannot be waiting for more women to be killed, or 16 days of activism to raise these concerns. There must be deliberate and demonstratable efforts to address and end femicide in Kenya.

Wallace M Nderu, Advocate of the High Court and Research and Advocacy Advisor, Defenders Coalition