Femicide is murder; an extreme form of violence against women and the government must rush to bring it to a stop

Violence against women continues to manifest in both private and public spaces. It happens within families, in workplaces, in social spaces, in Matatus and ride-hailing vehicles, and even, in rare cases, within places of worship. This violence takes many forms. It may be physical, such as slapping, hitting, or assault that can result in anything from minor injuries to loss of life. It may be sexual, including rape and other violations. It may also be psychological, expressed through verbal abuse, harassment, deprivation of resources, or the denial of basic rights and access to essential services.

As noted by the International Environmental Law Research Center, violence is part of a historical process rather than a natural or biologically determined condition. Male dominance has deep historical roots, and its forms and functions shift over time. This means that violence against women is ultimately political. Understanding it requires examining the state, social institutions, individual socialization, and the wider patterns of economic and social exploitation that shape power relations.

Femicide, the intentional killing of women driven by gender-based motivations, continues to rise. These killings are rooted in entrenched gender stereotypes, systemic discrimination, unequal power dynamics, and harmful social norms. Yet we are only months into the year and have already lost an alarming number of women, a reality the country cannot continue to accept.

State inaction remains one of the major factors enabling violence against women. The state often operates in contradiction: it enforces laws that sometimes disadvantage women, yet it is also the primary vehicle through which justice, protection, and structural reform can be achieved. Negligence—whether through lack of political will, policy gaps, or weak implementation—harbors conditions where violence thrives. For example, the notion of “privacy” in domestic spaces is frequently used to justify state inaction, unless violence becomes publicly visible. Additionally, some community-based conflict resolution structures tend to tolerate or excuse violence against women more readily than violence against men.

To safeguard women and curb this rising crisis, the state should consider the following measures:

• Issue a strong and unequivocal condemnation of femicide.
• Establish a multi-agency security task force dedicated to assessing national security trends and specifically addressing the prevention of femicide.
• Strengthen and adequately resource NGEC and women’s rights organizations, particularly in matters of safety, justice, and community protection.
• Challenge and dismantle harmful gender stereotypes that normalize or excuse violence against women.
• Create meaningful platforms where women leaders can regularly engage with state officials on emerging security concerns, share insights, and influence policy responses.

Protecting women is not just a legal obligation. It is a moral duty, a societal imperative, and a measure of our nation’s commitment to justice, equality, and human dignity.