The Kenyan government is under pressure to urgently investigate and prosecute cases of femicide, after the brutal murders of two women. “This is a national crisis—we are not doing enough as a country to protect women,” said Audrey Mugeni, the co-founder of Femicide Count Kenya, an NGO that documents the number of women killed across the country each year.
Last year, Femicide Count Kenya recorded 152 killings—the highest in the past five years. Representatives from the nonprofit, which records reported cases only, says the actual number of killings is likely to be much higher.
More than one in three women in Kenya report having experienced physical violence in their lifetime, according to a 2022 national survey. Rights groups say while the country has strong laws and policies against gender-based violence, implementation is wanting.
Read more here.
