Femicide: Police records reveal at least 97 women killed in three months

At least 97 women were killed in the last three months alone, data from the National Police Service now shows.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Eliud Lagat Wednesday said this points to rising cases of femicide in the country over the last two years.

Lagat defined femicide as the intentional killing of women and girls.

"This has become a critical issue in Kenya, especially with a significant increase in murder and manslaughter cases over the past two years. In the last three months alone, the country has reported 97 cases of femicide. This troubling trend highlights the urgent need for focused action and collaboration to tackle the widespread problem of gender-based violence in society," he said in a press briefing in Nairobi.

The DIG was accompanied by his Administration Police counterpart Gilbert Masengeli, Gender Permanent Secretary Anne Wang'ombe, and the Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin.

Lagat added that 90 per cent of the femicide cases reported to the authorities have since been resolved, the culprits apprehended, and are pending before court.

"We would like to extend our gratitude to the members of the public who have bravely come forward and shared crucial information that has significantly contributed to the successful apprehension of those responsible for these heinous acts. Your support is vital in the pursuit of justice and in ensuring the safety of our country," he said.

He at the same time appealed for information that would lead to the re-arrest of Collins Jumaisi Khalusha, the primary suspect in the Kware murders who escaped from police custody.

On his part, Amin allayed fears that women in the country were being targeted by criminals for murder, saying an analysis of reported killings pointed to criminal intent.

"There is no deliberate effort to target women. For the majority of the (femicide) cases we investigate, the motive is purely criminal. There was no deliberate effort to target members of the female gender. Let the gender not feel like they are being targeted by these criminals. It is just an outright criminal activity. There are no people hell-bent on killing our mothers, killing our daughters, and killing our sisters. So far, that is what we have been able to establish," said Amin.

Some of the notable concluded cases include the murder of Marybell Amankor Kapolong, which took place in Imenti North, Meru County, on September 16, 2018.

After a thorough investigation, Benson Kimathi Marangu was found guilty of the crime and was sentenced to 40 years in prison.

The shocking murder of Monica Nyawira Kimani, which occurred in Kilimani, Nairobi, on September 19, 2018, was solved with the conviction of the prime suspect, Jowie Irungu, who is currently serving a life sentence for the heinous act.

In the case of Sheliah Adhiambo Lumumba, who was tragically murdered in Karatina, Nyeri County, on April 14, 2022, the investigation resulted in a successful conviction, and the accused, Billinton Mwatire, was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

On Wednesday, the senior officers called for targeted strategies and collaborative efforts with various stakeholders to establish a safer environment for women and ensure comprehensive investigation and prosecution of all femicide cases.

"We urge every member of society, including governmental, civil, and religious leaders, to engage in this crucial dialogue. Only through collective action can we hope to eradicate the scourge of femicide and safeguard the lives of women and girls in our country," said Lagat.