Name: Femicide not officially recognized in Kenya despite rising cases
Uploaded: 2025-12-13T17:16:12.094Z
Duration: 1 min 58 s
Description: The United Nations says one in five women are killed in Kenya every day, but that many cases remain unreported or misclassified.

The United Nations says one in five women are killed in Kenya every day, but that many cases remain unreported or misclassified.

Nairobi

Femicide is not officially recognized as a crime in Kenya, despite a growing number of cases and increasing concern about gender-based violence. The United Nations reports that one in five women are killed daily in Kenya, with many cases going unreported or misclassified. 

Advocates are calling for improved psychosocial support for victims and greater awareness, as NGOs organize exhibitions to highlight the issue. Following public protests, the Kenyan government has established a task force to address femicide, while families like Lena Kanyawa's continue to seek justice for their loved ones.

Femicide not officially recognized in Kenya despite rising cases

This was Mary Wambuyi, Lena Kanyawa's 10-year-old daughter, who was killed three years ago. She'd been playing outside in the afternoon. When Mary didn't come home, her mother and older sister went to look for her at the place she'd last been seen by a neighbour, the house of the landlord's adult son. He's now facing trial for having assaulted and murdered the little girl. When I shone the light under the bed, I saw Mary's leg. I screamed. When I pulled her from under the bed, I saw my daughter had been stabbed with a knife. Cases like Mary's are far too common. The United Nations says one in five women are killed in Kenya every day, but that many cases remain unreported or misclassified. There's also growing concern about the increase in gender-based violence. We need to have a lot of psychosocial support, all the way from the minute you report to the police station. The person who should be receiving you shouldn't even be a police officer, should be a psychologist who walks you through your trauma, and then by the time you're able to speak up, you can be able to report properly. To increase awareness about femicide and gender-based violence, her NGO organised an exhibition which they've been taking around Kenya. Mary's mother shared her story at the opening and said the support she's received has helped. Yes, the support helped me to open up. I started speaking to people. I never used to tell people anything. I just stayed silent because I had so much pain inside. When I met the other women, they all had issues, some bigger than mine, so I saw I was not alone. Following protests, the government established a task force to address the rising femicide numbers. For Lena, Mary's case is finally in court and she hopes for some sort of justice. But the pain of losing a child will stay with her forever.

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