Kenyan police used tear gas to break up a protest in Nairobi on Monday, held to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
The protesters, calling for accountability and action against gender-based violence, condemned the security forces’ heavy-handed response. Activists accused the government of failing to adequately address the rising cases of femicide in the country.
“The police are supposed to protect us, yet they are part of the problem. They don’t want us to protest against the killing of women,” said Waithira Karanja, a resident of Nairobi.
Official reports indicate 97 cases of femicide were recorded in Kenya in the last three months.
Last week, President William Ruto expressed concern over the increasing femicide rates and called for a collective effort to combat gender-based violence. However, social justice activist Happy Olal criticized the government for a lack of concrete action. “It’s not enough to acknowledge the issue. How many arrests have been made for femicide this year?” he asked.
Globally, the United Nations reported that 85,000 women and girls were intentionally killed in 2023, with 60% of the cases involving intimate partners or family members. Africa recorded the highest number of victims, with 21,700 cases attributed to intimate or familial violence, equivalent to 2.9 victims per 100,000 people—the highest rate worldwide.
The protest coincided with the start of the annual 16 Days of Activism campaign against gender-based violence, highlighting the urgent need for more robust measures to protect women and girls in Kenya and beyond.