Passaris sounds alarm on femicide after supporter raped in Dandora

Nairobi women representative Esther Passaris/FILE

Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has revealed that one of her supporters was attacked, robbed, raped and stabbed shortly after attending an ODM rally in Dandora.

She said the incident occurred on Wednesday evening, leaving her devastated and raising fresh concerns over the growing wave of femicide and gender-based violence across the country.

“Just yesterday, we had an ODM rally in Dandora. One of my young supporters was attacked, her phone robbed and raped yesterday evening, and then knifed as well,” Passaris said during an interview on NTV.

A visibly emotional Passaris questioned what was driving the increasing brutality against women, particularly by young people, saying the country appeared to be witnessing a dangerous collapse of values and respect for human life.

“So who are these people who did this? It is Kenyans, young Kenyans. What are they under the influence of — drugs, alcohol, or just chest-thumping domination where they feel they can take down a woman?” she asked.

“We have lost our morality as citizens."

The lawmaker said the attack reflected a wider national crisis that goes beyond isolated criminal acts, warning that violence against women was becoming normalised in society.

“Where is this crisis coming from and how do we fix it?” she asked.

Her remarks come at a time when the country has witnessed increasing outrage over cases of women being killed, assaulted, or disappearing under suspicious circumstances, prompting protests and demands for urgent government intervention.

Last week, Association of Media Women in Kenya called for femicide and gender-based violence to be declared a national crisis, saying women and girls were increasingly unsafe in homes, workplaces and public spaces.

In a statement, the association warned that Kenya was no longer dealing with isolated domestic disputes but a widespread crisis where women were being systematically targeted simply because they are women.

The organisation cited several recent killings that have sparked public anger, including cases in Migori, Nakuru and Nairobi counties, and urged Parliament to fast-track legislation recognising femicide as a distinct criminal offence.

The calls have also been amplified by activists and women’s rights organisations, with demonstrations held in Nairobi, Mombasa and other towns demanding justice for victims and stronger protections for women.

On May 23, the National Police Service announced new measures aimed at curbing the rising wave of femicide after reporting at least 125 cases linked to gender-based killings and violence.

Police said the measures would include intensified investigations, closer monitoring of gender-based violence cases, and stronger collaboration with community leaders and civil society groups.

The growing concern has also reignited debate over online misogyny, drug abuse, youth radicalisation and the failure of institutions to adequately protect women from violence.

Passaris said the latest attack on her supporter should serve as a wake-up call for the country to confront the crisis more seriously before more lives are lost.

Her remarks add to growing pressure on the government to implement recommendations made earlier this year by the Presidential Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence, which proposed declaring femicide a national crisis and strengthening legal, psychosocial and security support systems for survivors and victims’ families.