Demonstrations are taking place across major cities in Kenya to protest against the rising cases of femicide and other violence against women.
In Nairobi, Nakuru, Mombasa, Nyeri, and Lodwar, hundreds of people have gathered; some are carrying placards bearing the names of the deceased.
According to a survey conducted in 2022, one in three Kenyan women reported having experienced physical abuse at some point in their lives.
The BBC was told by 33-year-old Winnie Chelagat, “I am here because I am angry.”
“It is wrong, we are tired and we want something to be done about it.”
Another protester, Michael Onyango, stated that men and boys should be held accountable for their own behavior rather than placing the onus of self-defense on women and girls.
“We should educate our sons and tell them that they need to stop killing women.”
The horrific killings of several women, including Rita Waeni, whose severed body was discovered inside a plastic bag at an Airbnb rental apartment, are what prompted the protests on Saturday.
Femicide is the deliberate killing of a girl or woman just because of her gender.
According to Amnesty International, Kenya recorded over 500 cases of femicide between 2016 and 2023.
Numerous victims were murdered by close companions or acquaintances.
Protesters demand that all recent victims of gender-based and sexual violence receive justice as soon as possible from the authorities.
Dozens of local rights groups say the government must declare femicide a national emergency and class femicide as a specific crime, distinct from murder.
The slogan “Sisi ni watu sio wanyama” (which translates to “we are human beings not animals”) was chanted by protesters in Nairobi on Saturday.
There were other banners with messages such as “every time you blame the victim you affirm the murderer” and “only weak men kill women”.
Social media users in Kenya’s so-called “manosphere” have been blaming murdered women for their own deaths, a phenomenon known as victim-blaming.
Many comments on social media sites highlight the victims’ attire during the attack or inquire as to why they did not use their phones to notify loved ones of their whereabouts.
Despite Kenya having robust laws against gender-based violence, most perpetrators go unpunished. When prosecutions are brought, they often drag on for years in court.
