KERICHO, Kenya — A prominent human rights defender in Kericho has urged the government to form a special police unit dedicated to addressing the rising number of femicide cases in Kenya.
According to Kenya News Agency, Executive Officer of the Kericho Center for Human Rights (KCHR), this unit within the National Police Service would expedite the investigation process, ensuring timely justice for victims and acting as a deterrent to potential perpetrators.
In an interview with KNA in Litein town, Bureti Sub-county, Ngeno highlighted the need for specialized officers trained in psychological support and counseling to handle sensitive cases stemming from intimate relationships. He criticized the current handling of such cases by law enforcement, pointing out a trend where incidents resulting from love triangles and similar circumstances are trivialized and investigations are prematurely concluded.
Ngeno emphasized the gravity of femicide, describing it as a crime that places women in dire vulnerability to sexual and gender-based violence, leading to severe physical, sexual, and psychological harm. “Femicide is a serious crime that should never be allowed to mature post the germination stage,” he stated, underlining the urgent need to address this human rights violation, which often goes unreported due to stigma and shame.
The call for a national dialogue on femicide reflects Ngeno’s belief that eradicating the issue requires a collective effort from all societal sectors, backed by a government-led anti-femicide campaign. He proposed an inclusive discussion in various societal gatherings to forge a policy and potentially laws that obligate citizens to contribute to the solution.
The urgency of this proposal is underscored by data from Femicide Count Kenya, which reports that 504 women were murdered between 2019 and 2024. The recent stabbing of 26-year-old Starlet Wahu, among other shocking cases, has drawn national attention to the pervasive issue of femicide in Kenya, highlighting the critical need for effective intervention measures.