Content warning: This article mentions gender based violence.
The peak of the highly anticipated march to mark the end of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV) took an unexpected turn in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi on 10th December 2024.
Anti-femicide protesters who were peacefully marching along the capital’s streets were dispersed by police who hurled tear gas canisters on them as they headed to parliament buildings. Some protesters were injured in the event while at least three people were arrested. In a joint statement with three other organisations, Amnesty International stated that Irungu Houghton, the Executive Director of Amnesty International Kenya, was among those arrested.
The protesters who were demonstrating against the rise of femicide in the country demanded the end of violence against women. Protesters carried placards with names of those who had been killed while chanting the slogan, “Stop killing us! Stop killing women!”
Their demonstration had brought together women, human rights activists, and allies to raise awareness against femicide, and to seek justice for women who had been killed in the recent months by their intimate partners, ex-intimate partners and others by unknown people.
While condemning the police brutal activity, Cynthia Kemunto, a protester, told Missing Perspectives that perpetrators of GBV needed to be brought to book in order to stop the vice. “We are peaceful and we just want everybody to know that femicide is a crime and that the government should know that it is becoming a pandemic that requires concerted effort from both the public and the government to fight it,” she said.
Similar demonstrations were conducted in other towns in the country including Busia, Kilifi, Lodwar and Mombasa.
According to UN Women, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence campaign provides an opportunity to refresh commitments and call for accountability from decision makers putting into consideration that the world is approaching the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 2025 with the aim of achieving gender equality and women’s and girl’s rights worldwide.
Globally, an estimated 736 million women (30% of women 15 years and above) have encountered physical and/ sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both at least once in their life.
In Kenya, reports show that apart from physical, psychological and sexual violence against women, 97 women had been killed since August this year. In response to this, President William Ruto on November 20th declared that the government had allocated 100 million shillings to fight the vice. This was then followed by a call to action to participate in this 16 Days of Activism against GBV from November 25th and 10th December marked its culmination.
At an earlier protest, which was a prelude to the 16 Days of activism against GBV in Nakuru County, Gladys Kamuren, the Gender, Social Services and Inclusivity Officer issued a stern warning against the perpetrators that they would face full force of the Law. She emphasised that Nakuru County was committed to addressing the issue through policy development aimed at protecting vulnerable individuals. She noted the county was in the process of formulating policies to ensure the safety and well-being of residents.
Kamuren’s sentiments were echoed at the Tuesday’s demonstrations at the coastal region where protesters wanted county governments to provide safe houses for GBV victims and put in place gender policies in order to protect vulnerable individuals from this wickedness.
In Kilifi Conty, Peally Salim, a member of End Femicide Kenya Movement, said that there was much to be done by the government on this. “We feel that the government is not doing enough in creating awareness on this issue and to look into the matter so that the victims of GBV may obtain the justice they deserve,” she said.