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Amnesty says Kenya recorded 10 femicide cases in January ahead of nationwide march

Rita Waeni's was one of at least 16 femicides recorded in Kenya in January, which sparked a series of protests led by human rights groups. (Photo: EV)

By Immaculate Wairimu | Saturday, January 27, 2024

The body will join other women’s activists across the country in a march to denounce femicide.

Amnesty International Kenya has said there have been over 10 cases of femicide since the start of January.

In a statement on Friday, the organisation said that violence is not normal and must never be normalised by silence.

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“Between 2016 and 2023, over 500 women have been killed. The majority of those murdered were below the age of 35 years and were killed by their partners or people known to them,” it said in a statement.

According to the group, femicide is the most brutal manifestation of gender-based violence, and it should be condemned.

“It is unacceptable and must never be normalised. Amnesty International Kenya cautions all people that law enforcement agencies are obligated to protect the right to life and dignity under Constitution Articles 26 and 28,” it noted.

The body will join other women’s activists across the country in a march to denounce femicide.

The peaceful march, dubbed TotalShutdownKe, will take place in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Turkana, Kilifi, Machakos, Kisii and Busia on Saturday.

This follows a series of gruesome murders of Rita Waeni and Starlet Wahu.

The organisers of the march have called upon all Kenyans to show up and raise their voices against rising violence that violates Kenyan and international laws.

A report conducted by Africa Uncensored indicates that cases of femicide are on the rise. In 2016, there were 20 cases reported. This rose to 57 in 2017. 2018 recorded the highest number at 95. Out of the reported cases, only 15 per cent were perpetrated by strangers to the victims.

Africa Data Hub estimates that there will be around 500 femicide victims between 2016 and 2024.

Following these statistics, Amnesty International has called on all relevant government agencies to expedite investigations to prosecute and serve justice to all these victims of gender-based violence.