Advertisement
5 mistakes that are slowing efforts to end femicide in Kenya
21st May, 2026 02:45 PM
Femicide continues to spark painful conversations across Kenya as cases of women being killed in violent circumstances keep emerging from different parts of the country.
While public outrage often rises after every major incident, experts and rights groups argue that deeper structural and societal challenges continue slowing meaningful progress in addressing the crisis.
Many activists say the conversation around femicide has become emotional and reactive, yet long term solutions remain limited.
From politicisation to weak legal structures and harmful social attitudes, several factors continue affecting efforts aimed at prevention, justice and public awareness.
Politicisation of femicide cases
One major challenge affecting the fight against femicide is the growing politicisation of some cases.
In recent years, certain incidents have quickly shifted from conversations about violence against women into political and tribal debates.
This has created dangerous perceptions online and within communities, where some people begin associating femicide with particular ethnic groups instead of treating it as a national social crisis affecting all communities.
Analysts warn that once cases become politicised, public attention often shifts away from victims and broader systemic issues.
The debate turns into defending political positions or communities rather than discussing prevention, justice and protection measures.
Such narratives can also create division and reduce collective responsibility in addressing violence against women.
Public relations responses
Another concern raised by observers is the tendency for senior officials and institutions to respond mainly through public relations statements after high profile cases emerge.
In many situations, strong speeches, hashtags and public condemnations dominate headlines for a few days, but long term policy changes and implementation remain unclear.
Critics argue that while public communication is important, awareness alone cannot solve the problem without sustained investment in investigations, victim support systems, shelters, counselling services and community education.
The concern is that repeated reactive messaging may create the impression of action while structural gaps remain unresolved.
Lack of clear legal frameworks and guidelines
Kenya has laws addressing murder, assault and gender based violence, but experts say there is still limited clarity around comprehensive frameworks specifically dealing with femicide and related protection systems.
Some activists believe there is a need for clearer operational guidelines covering prevention, investigations, emergency response, victim protection, funding structures and coordination among institutions.
Questions have also emerged about the availability of specialised resources for handling cases involving gender based killings, especially in rural areas where victims may struggle to access legal and psychological support.
Without stronger coordination and clearly defined systems, implementation often becomes inconsistent.
Weak justice systems
Public confidence in the justice process also continues affecting the national conversation around femicide. Some Kenyans believe powerful suspects or financially stable individuals can sometimes manipulate investigations or influence outcomes.
Whether proven or perceived, such concerns weaken trust in institutions and discourage victims or witnesses from coming forward.
Delayed court cases, insufficient evidence collection and prolonged investigations can also make justice feel distant for affected families.
Legal experts argue that improving investigative capacity, witness protection and accountability systems would help strengthen public trust and improve prosecution outcomes.
Harmful societal beliefs
Social attitudes remain one of the biggest obstacles in the fight against femicide.
In many cases, online discussions quickly shift toward questioning victims instead of focusing on perpetrators and accountability.
Phrases suggesting that “there must be another side of the story” or assumptions that victims somehow contributed to their deaths continue appearing after shocking incidents.
Rights groups warn that such narratives normalise violence and discourage survivors of abuse from seeking help early.
Victim blaming can also reduce empathy and shift attention away from warning signs such as controlling behaviour, threats or repeated abuse.
Experts say ending femicide will require not only legal reforms but also deeper cultural conversations around relationships, masculinity, conflict resolution and respect for women.
