2024: The worst year for femicide in Kenya as cases soar to 170

According to a recent report titled Silencing Women, 170 femicide cases were documented over the past 12 months, a significant increase in comparison to previous years. 

The report, commissioned by data analytics firm Odipodev in collaboration with Africa Uncensored, reveals that the most affected group are women aged between 18 and 35, with intimate partner violence being the primary cause of these deaths.

While the statistics paint a grim picture, there is a glimmer of hope as Kenya's judicial system begins to hand down tougher sentences for those convicted of femicide. 

However, the true scale of the problem may be even more dire, with the report suggesting that many cases of femicide remain unreported, particularly in rural and marginalized areas.

One particularly shocking incident that drew public attention involved a man who was found in possession of his wife’s dismembered body parts in a backpack in Nairobi.

 This case has contributed to the rising concern about the alarming rate of femicide in the country. In addition, the report notes that femicide cases have doubled over the last eight years, with 2024 alone seeing a significant spike. 

Notably, this figure does not include the infamous Kware murders, where the prime suspect, Collins Jumaisi, confessed to having killed 42 women before discarding their bodies.

Nairobi County recorded the highest number of femicide cases, followed closely by Nakuru and Kiambu. 

However, the report cautions that the true number of femicides may be higher, as many such cases go unreported. 

In fact, it is believed that numerous murders of women are likely being overlooked or ignored, especially in rural areas where such crimes are less likely to be documented.

According to the report, 75% of femicide cases were perpetrated by someone known to the victim, including intimate partners, friends, or family members. 

Alarmingly, 72% of these killings took place within the confines of the victim’s home, underscoring the deep-rooted and often hidden nature of this violence.

Despite the tragic rise in femicide, the report highlights a positive development: public outcry has led to a significant shift in the judicial system, with the number of convictions for femicide cases in 2024 rising by 118%. 

The average sentence for convicted perpetrators now stands at 23 years behind bars. This increase in convictions signals a growing recognition of the severity of femicide and a stronger response from the justice system.

However, the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) has called for further concerted efforts to address not just femicide but gender-based violence in its entirety. Rehema Jaldesa, Chairperson of the NGEC, emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to tackle violence against women in all its forms.

In response to the alarming rise in femicide cases, President William Ruto recently appointed a 42-member task force to investigate the issue and recommend solutions. 

The task force, led by former Deputy Chief Justice Nancy Baraza, is expected to present its report within 90 days. This initiative is seen as a critical step in addressing the systemic issues that contribute to femicide and gender-based violence in Kenya.

As the nation grapples with these unsettling statistics, there is hope that these legal and governmental measures will lead to more effective prevention, better reporting of cases, and harsher penalties for those who perpetrate such heinous acts. The call for justice and equality is now louder than ever.