Mudavadi directs swift police action to end femicide

Acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has directed the police to act with speed and arrest the runaway cases of femicide in the country.

In a statement on Monday at the start of the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence, Mudavadi said he stands in solidarity with the global community in condemning acts of violence against women and girls.

“As the acting Interior CS, I acll upon our police and security forces to take swift action to ensure the safety and security of our women and girls. No more lives should be lost and no more acts of violence should go unanswered,” Mudabvadi said.

His directive comes against a backdrop of shocking police statistics that at least 97 women and girls were killed in Kenya the last three months.

On a global scale, statistics indicate that a woman is killed every 10 minutes, while here in Kenya, Femicide Count Kenya recorded 150 known femicide cases in 2023 alone.

“These figures are not just numbers; they represent lives tragically cut short and they demand immediate, decisive action to end this crisis,” Mudavadi said.

The Prime Cabinet Secretary said security agencies do not have the luxury to wait any longer amid surging cases of gender-based violence against women, stating that “time to act is now”.

He said under the theme UNiTE! Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls, he envisions a Kenya where girls and women are not only safe but also respected.

“I’m directing that all suspects reported to police stations for gender-based violence be subjected to the full force of the law. Let me be very clear, there must be no tolerance for negotiations or settlements that undermine justice for survivors,” Mudavadi said.

The development comes at a time the country is still reeling from shock following an incident in Nakuru where a man slashed a woman using a machete and left her for dead following a domestic disagreement.

The suspect, who has since surrendered to the police, is believed to have attacked the woman said to be his wife at their house in Kiamunyi on November 22, leaving her with serious injuries on her hands.

Speaking from her hospital bed, the victim said she lost some of her fingers as she tried to shield herself from being struck by a machete.

The suspect who surrendered to the police in the wee hours of Monday, is likely to face attempted murder charges.

Mudavadi called on village elders, Nyumba Kumi leaders, chiefs, their assistants and National Administration officers to take the lead as police implement the directive to crack the whip against perpetrators of violence against women.

“Engage communities across the country, educate them about the devastating impact of gender-based violence and promote a culture of respect for women and girls,” the Prime CS said.