Faced with an epidemic of femicides, civil society demands immediate action from the State of Kenya. It calls for the legal recognition of this crime, the establishment of specialized police units with psychological support, and the creation of a commission with adequate resources. Inaction is no longer an option.
The ADH expresses its outrage and deep concern at the epidemic of femicides ravaging Kenya. The tragic case of ten year old Mary Wambui, as well as the record figures recorded in 2023, are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a systemic crisis. The absence of specific legal recognition of femicide, combined with inadequate institutional responses, constitutes an abandonment of women and girls and a violation of Kenya’s constitutional commitments to the rights to life, dignity, and security.
Our analysis reveals a critical situation marked by several structural failures.
First, the failure to recognize femicide as a specific crime in Kenyan criminal law minimizes the gravity of these gender based murders. This legal gap hinders the collection of accurate data and prevents a judicial response tailored to the patriarchal and systemic dimensions of this violence.
Second, the protection system as a whole—from the police to the courts—is not equipped to provide dignified reception, protection, and support to survivors and to the families of victims. The glaring lack of immediate and specialized psychosocial support within police stations too often results in a form of secondary victimization, compounding the suffering of those in distress. While public and media pressure has compelled the government to create a task force, the concrete measures adopted and the resources allocated remain woefully inadequate given the scale of the problem. The bulk of the response still relies on the courage and limited resources of NGOs and citizen groups, as illustrated by the crucial work of Usikimye.
Finally, the poignant testimony of Lenah Kanywa and the shock generated by the traveling exhibition are painful but necessary reminders: behind every statistic lies a stolen life, a devastated family, and a demand for justice that must not be stifled by inaction or half measures.
Demanding an urgent, coordinated, and properly funded response, civil society calls on the Government of Kenya, Parliament, the judiciary, and county governments to:
1. Immediate Legal Recognition
Include femicide as a specific crime in the Kenyan Penal Code, with clear aggravating circumstances and penalties proportionate to the gravity of the act. Such recognition is a fundamental step toward ending impunity.
2. Implementation of a National Support Protocol
Establish and fund specialized units in every police station, staffed by trained officers and professional psychologists available 24/7, to ensure dignified reception, efficient recording of complaints, and immediate support for victims and their families.
3. Strengthening and Empowering the Working Group
Transform the existing working group into a National Action Commission against femicide and gender based violence, with a clear mandate, a binding timeline, a transparent budget, and effective authority to monitor the implementation of recommendations. Its work and reports must be made public.
4. Investment in Prevention and Awareness
Launch a large scale, ongoing, and coordinated national awareness and education campaign, in partnership with civil society, to dismantle patriarchal social norms, promote consent, and widely disseminate information on reporting mechanisms and available support services.
5. Structural Support for Survivors and Families
Create an emergency aid and compensation fund for the families of femicide victims and survivors of severe violence to cover medical, psychological, and legal expenses, and to guarantee a minimum level of economic security.
Justice for Mary and for all victims requires more than words. It requires a radical transformation of the legal framework and of the institutions responsible for protecting the lives and dignity of women and girls.