Don't justify murder! Women leaders condemn femicide cases

The Office of the President's Advisor on Women's Rights has condemned the recent surge in femicide cases.

Speaking to the press on Friday, Harriet Chigai called on the government to address Intimate Partner Violence.

She said that her office has an open-door policy and asked the public to come forward with information that may advance the investigations in the recent cases.

The Presidential Advisor on women's rights condemned the shaming of victims online and called for safe spaces to be provided to victims to come forward in gender-based violence cases.

"Women's rights are human rights, murder should not be justified," Harriet said.

She asked the public to exercise sensitivity when talking about the cases.

Chigai said the fight to end GBV and IPV is a collective effort.

She also called for legislation to regulate social media as it has been used to perpetrate some of the recent cases.

Various politicians have also condemned the increase of femicide cases in the country.

Embattled Jubilee Party secretary general Jeremiah Kioni urged the government to heighten security amid rising cases of femicide.

In a statement on Thursday, Kioni said security agencies should take up the matter promptly.

This comes in the wake of the murders of Starlet Wahu and Rita Waeni.

"The surge in femicide cases in our country is both shocking and disheartening. It demands immediate action from all necessary security agencies. It's deeply troubling that the government of the day has stayed silent," he said.

On Wednesday, opposition leader Raila Odinga also weighed into the matter saying the abnormality of the murders cannot become the new norm.

"It is sad to see a troubling increase in the deaths of young women, leaving a trail of grief for families and friends," he said.

Raila highlighted that the ugly scourge of the murder of women is now a national emergency.

The Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) called on President William Ruto to declare femicide and other forms of Gender Based Violence a national disaster.

KEWOPA in a statement on Wednesday further called on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Inspector General of Police to speed up investigations into all ongoing femicide cases and bring perpetrators to book.

Former Baringo Senator Gideon Moi also urged the government to scale up measures to protect women in the country.

In a statement on Friday, Gideon said the state should also ensure justice is served to the victims and their families.

"In the last few days, we have witnessed an unprecedented increase in the atrocious killings of women across the country," he said.

"As we condemn these killings, we also call on those in positions of authority to take action to protect and preserve the lives of our women while ensuring that justice is swiftly and commensurably served to the victims."