What is femicide, and why should it be addressed as a specific issue?
Femicide, the most extreme form of violence against women, is the killing of girls and women because of their gender1. In most cases, there is usually a history of prior violence ( intimate partner violence) before it results in death. According to police reports, 129 women have been violently killed in Kenya since January2 2025.
It is horrific and disheartening, and if you have been following the news or any social media platforms, you know this is indeed a crisis.
The time to lend your voice and act towards advocating for change is now. It can feel like a losing battle or that what you do in your sphere of influence does not matter, but I assure you, it matters. So, for today, I am asking you to sign this petition asking for femicide to be declared a crime in Kenya.
The Issue
Every two days, a woman in Kenya is murdered simply because she is a woman.
This is not just another tragedy—this is femicide, the intentional killing of women because of their gender, rooted in deep-seated violence and discrimination.
The situation is dire. In 2024 alone, at least 170 women were killed—the highest annual toll on record. Shockingly, recent reports show an average of one woman murdered every day in the past week. Yet despite this crisis, Kenya does not legally recognize femicide as a distinct crime. Without this recognition, these killings are ignored, poorly tracked, and often go unpunished.
Why This Matters?
🔴 No Recognition, No Justice – Femicide is treated as just another homicide, allowing perpetrators to evade accountability.
🔴 A Deadly Pattern We Can’t Ignore – These murders keep happening because the root causes—misogyny and systemic discrimination—are overlooked.
🔴 Naming It Saves Lives – Countries like Mexico, Argentina, and Italy have recognized femicide as a crime, leading to stronger laws, better investigations, and greater protections for women.
Kenya has the chance to be the first African nation to take this critical step—setting a powerful example for the continent and affirming that women’s lives matter.
Our Demands
We call on the Kenyan government to:
✅ Legally define femicide as a distinct crime to ensure proper tracking and accountability.
✅ Strengthen laws and policies to prevent these killings and protect women.
✅ Guarantee thorough investigations and justice for victims.
✅ Increase funding for survivor support services.
We have laws protecting property and money—yet when a woman’s life is stolen for being a woman, the system fails her. This must change.
Justice begins with recognition. Justice begins with us.
Sign this petition today to demand Kenya declare femicide a crime.
#MakeFemicideACrime #EndFemicideKe 3
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