Understanding And Combating Femicide

WELLNESS CORNER

By: Kinya Gitonga

Worth Noting:

• Primarily, The Kenyan society is prone to Inadequate Legal Protection. There are gaps in the legal frameworks and enforcement may fail to adequately protect women from domestic violence and femicide, allowing perpetrators to act with impunity. This is at times due to bribes on going in the legal sector.
• Secondly, Kenyan society also exhibits victim blaming. This is very clear and evident in social media where victims are blamed as a means of justifying their deaths. Once the deaths were announced, several negative sentiments regarding women were aired. Majority blamed the victims on several issues. Instead of assessing and evaluating what went wrong where, there was many backs and forth.

Femicide, the intentional killing of women based on their gender, is a grave issue that has been increasingly prevalent in Kenya. This article aims to shed light on the causes of femicide, the profound effects on society, and explore potential mitigation strategies to address this alarming trend.

Kenya has had a history especially on deaths of women. Research states that last year, Kenya had a very high number of reported cases. Most of these deaths are relate to physical violence, rape, strangling, being drugged and at times being injured through fire. The year 2024, has also began on a higher note, with several cases of young girls experiencing the same. This needs the government to investigate and prosecute the murders involved with the deaths of the women.

On January 4, a 26-year-old woman named starlet Wahu is reported to be cruelly killed by a criminal man from the dating sites. A week later, a woman named Rita, was also cruelly murdered as her body parts are mutilated using a hacksaw. Her body parts disposed of in a plastic bag. Males mainly do these deaths. At times, the women had agreed to meet up with them.

GBV episode in their early ages just before attaining the age of 18. Looking at Kenya, several policies against Femicide as well as violence in general have been put in place. Several organizations like Femicide Count Kenya have also been established to mitigate the same yet the cases are increasing on a daily basis. Why so?

Primarily, The Kenyan society is prone to Inadequate Legal Protection. There are gaps in the legal frameworks and enforcement may fail to adequately protect women from domestic violence and femicide, allowing perpetrators to act with impunity. This is at times due to bribes on going in the legal sector.

Secondly, Kenyan society also exhibits victim blaming. This is very clear and evident in social media where victims are blamed as a means of justifying their deaths.  Once the deaths were announced, several negative sentiments regarding women were aired. Majority blamed the victims on several issues. Instead of assessing and evaluating what went wrong where, there was many backs and forth. This means that the families of the deceased barely get support to seek justice of their loved ones more prosecute the perpetrator. They are left with burns of social pressure leading to emotional and psychological torture.

Thirdly, Gender Inequality. Just like other countries, Gender inequality is also exhibited in Kenya where there is devaluation of women and girls in various spheres of life, making them vulnerable to violence. Lastly, in Kenya violence is normalized or tolerated hence individuals at times view it is as a normal things. However, how do such incidences affect us?

Femicide leaves lasting psychological scars on the families and communities of the victims, contributing to a culture of fear and trauma. The fear goes a step further to erode trust within communities, making individuals feel unsafe and disrupting social cohesion.

A repetition of femicide where the perpetrator is not brought to justice creates a cycle of gender-based violence by normalizing violence against women, contributing to a society where such acts are more likely to occur.

Femicide in Kenya is a complex issue rooted in societal structures, cultural norms, and systemic inequalities. Addressing this crisis requires a multi-faceted approach that involves legal reforms, education, economic empowerment, mental health support, and community involvement. By collectively working towards a more equitable and just society, Kenya can mitigate the causes and effects of femicide, fostering an environment where women and girls can live free from the threat of violence.

It is not merely a women’s issue, it is a societal concern that affects the wellbeing and potential of entire communities.

Created by Psychologist Kinya Gitonga.

She is an author of The How’s of Anger and Thrive. Reach out via Kinya N Gitonga across all platforms.

Photo: Participants in the #EndFemicideNOW campaign by the Young Women’s Leadership Institute (YWLI) take part in a protest to call for an end to femicide. Photo: COURTESY