Amnesty International Kenya Executive Director Irungu Houghton has called on President William Ruto to address the pressing issue of femicide in Kenya.
Speaking on Wednesday, Irungu emphasized the significant impact President Ruto's statement on femicide could have, given his position as the highest authority in the republic.
"We are yet to witness the President addressing the critical issue of femicide. Such a statement would convey a powerful message to the entire nation, signaling from the highest echelon of the republic that this (femicide) is unequivocally unacceptable," he said at Citizen TV.
Highlighting the gender disparity revealed in the latest report from the Gender Equality Commission, Irungu pointed out that Kenya is still a considerable distance away from achieving true gender equality.
He identified challenges such as disinformation, online attacks on women, and hate crimes as formidable obstacles hindering progress in this regard.
In addition, Irungu called upon independent offices in Kenya, as well as the executive branch, to intensify their efforts in combating this menace.
Hundreds of women staged peaceful protests on January 27, 2024, across various counties, uniting in solidarity against the escalating femicide cases in Kenya.
These demonstrations, organized by different advocacy groups, were prompted by instances of brutal killings, including the tragic deaths of university student Rita Waeni and socialite Starlet Wahu.
This week, the government embarked on a crackdown on all unregistered Airbnbs and other short-term accommodations.
The premises were ordered to immediately register with the Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA).
The crackdown started on February 5, 2024, will aid in identifying the unregistered premises.
The exercise will be led by National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) in collaboration with the TRA.
The government has pledged to coordinate with booking platforms to restrict unregistered rentals and further institute severe penalties.
Unregistered rentals will also face fines and revocation in cases of non-compliance.
The recent cases of alleged murders of women across the country have drawn reactions from Kenyans on social media with civil societies calling for action.
