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Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has urged women to focus on their safety in relationships, particularly given the alarming increase in femicide cases in Kenya, as calls for accountability grow.
Speaking in the Senate on Thursday, Cherargei advised women to avoid toxic relationships influenced by societal pressure and emphasized the importance of taking personal security measures alongside relying on police support.
“Women have the right to choose their associations, but they must exercise caution. We cannot depend solely on police for protection; we all need to be vigilant and avoid relationships that could result in femicide,” Cherargei stated. He also called on religious organizations to actively advocate against gender-based violence.
This comes in light of 97 femicide cases reported in Kenya over the past three months, indicating a disturbing rise in gender-based violence.
On Wednesday, the National Police Service (NPS) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) noted a steady increase in murder and manslaughter cases over the last two years and committed to intensifying their efforts to tackle the issue.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Langat remarked, “In just the last three months, we’ve recorded 97 femicide cases. This concerning trend highlights the urgent need for collaborative action to combat gender-based violence.”
The NPS reassured Kenyans of its dedication to thoroughly investigating femicide cases and called on society, government, and religious leaders to join in collective efforts to eliminate the violence.
Statistics from the African Data Hub show a rise in femicide cases from 20 in 2016 to a peak of 95 in 2018, with 75 cases reported last year.
