Kenyan police used tear gas and made several arrests on Tuesday as hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Nairobi to demonstrate against a surge in femicides. Despite dispersing the crowd with teargas, the protesters, predominantly women, regrouped and continued their call for an end to gender-based violence. Protests were also reported in Mombasa and Lodwar.
National Outcry Over Rising Femicide Rates
The protests in Nairobi were largely peaceful but were met with a heavy-handed police response. Activists, including Irungu Houghton, executive director of Amnesty International Kenya, criticized the police for their aggressive tactics, which they said undermined democratic freedoms and the right to protest. In recent months, at least 97 women have been killed in gender-motivated murders across Kenya, prompting calls for urgent action and accountability.
Systemic Issues Behind Rising Femicide Rates
Research indicates that deep-rooted patriarchal attitudes and inadequate legal protections are contributing to the high incidence of femicides in Kenya. Activists argue that the government must take more substantial steps to address these issues and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable. The police’s response to past protests, marked by deadly force during anti-government demonstrations in June and July, has drawn further criticism for its handling of public dissent.