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Rights groups give govt 40 days to act on rising femicide crisis
20th May, 2026 02:43 PM
Kenya’s leading women’s rights organisations and civil society groups have issued a warning over the rising cases of femicide and violence against women and girls, describing the situation as a national emergency that can no longer be ignored.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, the groups, including the Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya, the Law Society of Kenya, the Kenya Human Rights Commission, and the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association, said women and girls are being killed in what they called horrific and repeated patterns of violence across the country.
“We cannot stand by and watch as women and girls continue to suffer such violence. Femicide and violence against women and girls in Kenya have reached crisis levels and require immediate national intervention,” the statement read.
According to the organisations, the violence is no longer isolated or rare. It is becoming disturbingly familiar, with cases reported almost every week, often involving intimate partners or family members.
They pointed to several recent tragedies, including the killing of Sylvia Kemunto, a first-year student at Multimedia University, who was found dead in a water tank in April 2025 after being strangled.
“In April 2026, Anita was fatally stabbed by her husband, a senior Kenya Defence Forces officer, in front of their four-year-old daughter and their house manager,” the statement noted.
Another case involved 21-year-old Rose Benter Apondi, a student at Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technology, who was killed by her ex-boyfriend in what the groups described as a planned revenge attack.
In May 2026, gospel musician Rachel Wandeto was also attacked, set on fire by unknown assailants, and later died while receiving treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital.
“We share these stories to represent the many women who have been victims of femicide. No family should have to endure such pain, and no life should be cut short in this way,” the organisations said.
The groups further cited data from Amnesty International Kenya and FIDA-Kenya, warning that the scale of the crisis is worsening.
“At least eight femicide cases are reported each week. This means about one woman or girl is killed every day in Kenya,” the statement said.
They also revealed that women aged 18 to 35 make up 59 per cent of femicide victims, with many being students in higher education institutions. In most cases, they added, they happen at home and involve people known to the victims.
“Most victims had already reported abuse or shared fears with family, police or community leaders, but their concerns were ignored or diverted to informal resolution channels,” the statement read.
The organisations criticised weak enforcement of existing laws, saying Kenya already has strong legal frameworks, but implementation remains poor.
Constitution
The statement pointed to the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and laws such as the Sexual Offences Act (2006) and the Protection Against Domestic Violence Act (2015), saying they are not being fully enforced.
“We have laws that protect women and girls, but they are not being enforced effectively. As a result, many continue to suffer violence and death despite the protections on paper,” the groups said.
They also raised concern over the slow government response to recommendations from the Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, launched in January 2026.
“The President has not acted on key recommendations, including declaring GBV and femicide a national crisis, even as cases continue to rise,” the statement added.
The organisations are now demanding urgent action within 40 days, starting with a formal declaration of GBV and femicide as a national crisis.
They are also calling for a dedicated GBV fund, rapid response systems for survivors, and improved coordination among state agencies.
“We are demanding a national GBV fund, properly resourced survivor support systems, and urgent accountability from all responsible institutions,” the statement said.
They further want William Ruto to launch a national awareness campaign and direct security agencies to strengthen investigations and evidence handling in GBV cases.
“If there is no action within 40 days, we will organise peaceful nationwide protests and pursue strategic litigation to compel the state to fulfil its duty to protect women and girls,” the groups warned.
“We are calling on all stakeholders, government, civil society, faith groups, and the public, to act now. Every delay costs a life that should have been saved,” they concluded.
