A group of women leaders, under the Kenya Women Senators Association (Kewosa), has strongly condemned the increasing incidents of violence and cultural oppression targeting women and young girls. They raised alarm over a disturbing trend of brutal attacks, some resulting in the loss of innocent lives.
Kewosa chairperson Veronica Maina expressed deep concern, stating that the rise in such cases is alarming despite ongoing efforts to combat the problem. “Enough is enough,” she said. “Widows should not be inherited or silenced, and girls are not objects of negotiation for family pride—they deserve safety, dignity, and justice.” Maina also applauded President William Ruto’s initiative to allocate Sh100 million towards combating gender-based violence and femicide.
She emphasized that femicide in Kenya is deeply rooted in a culture that normalizes violence against women as a form of control, citing Nairobi, Kiambu, and Nakuru as hotspots, with other counties such as Kirinyaga, Kisii, and Meru also recording worrying trends. She recounted the horrifying murder of 17-year-old Gaala Aden Abdi in Wajir, who was killed and set ablaze for rejecting a forced marriage.
Kewosa also condemned cases like that of a student killed by an ex-boyfriend and the disinheritance of widows in Kisii. “These acts are not cultural—they are criminal. Kenya may have progressive laws, but the challenge lies in their enforcement,” Maina added.
