MURDER UNEXPECTED: The Rise of Femicide or Is it?

The Unveiling of a Silent Epidemic

While the term "femicide" may have gained widespread currency in Kenya only very recently, the brutal reality it describes is tragically not new. For decades, advocates have tirelessly fought to shed light on the gender-based violence claiming women's lives, often with their voices echoing unheard. Yet, the past year, leading into early 2025, marks a critical turning point. A crescendo of public consciousness and activism has emerged, catalyzed by a horrifying series of events that pulled the silent epidemic of femicide into the harsh light of national and global scrutiny, prompting a collective, agonizing question about what has truly been happening behind closed doors.

In the past year, extending into early 2025, Kenya has witnessed an unprecedented surge in awareness and widespread activism against femicide. This critical movement, largely spearheaded by Kenyan youth, has ignited nationwide marches and garnered global social media attention through powerful hashtags like #EndFemicideKE. While advocacy against gender-based violence has persisted for decades, the term "femicide" and the specific crisis it represents remained largely unheard of by the broader public. Earlier tragedies, such as the murders of Sharon Otieno in 2018 and Olympian Agnes Tirop in 2021, certainly stirred public concern. However, it was the horrific murders of Rita Waeni and Scarlet Wahu in January 2024 that served as a profound catalyst, igniting the current wave of femicide activism across Kenya. The brutal details surrounding Rita Waeni's murder, including her dismemberment, sent a shockwave of rage and anguish throughout the nation. Although comprehensive official data for 2024 is still being compiled, organizations like Africa Data Hub have already indicated that 2024 tragically recorded the highest number of femicides the country has seen. This stark figure naturally leads one to ponder whether this marks a genuine escalation in violence or primarily reflects a long-overdue acknowledgment and intensified documentation of a persistent issue.

Let's get into the available statistics that will help explain the where, the who, when, and why of this tragic situation that Kenyan women faced.

Which years from 2016 to 2023 was femicide notable? I wondered. While, according to current data, 2018 has the highest cases of femicide. It's been noted by African Data Hub that 2024 had the highest number of deaths. Looking at the chart, you may notice an outlier. In 2005, a femicide case was recorded, thus prompting a question of whether current femicide cases are an arising issue or were they just being recently acknowledged? Are the 2024 cases even the worst, or have there been worse cases?

Most of the femicide victims were within the age range of 6 to 95 years of age. The median age of femicide victims is 28 years, indicating that femicide most affects young women, showing the need for their protection. Most of them were victims of people they were intimate with. One would think that when you enter a relationship with someone, you would be secure. As it turns out, most of these women were lying with the enemy, clearly.

Disturbingly, the majority of these murders occurred within the home – a place universally expected to be a sanctuary. Public spaces, unsurprisingly, follow as a close second, with workplaces being the least common location. This pattern, combined with data on the relationship between the suspect and the victim, strongly suggests that these tragedies are predominantly rooted in intimate partner violence (IPV) or broader family conflicts. Indeed, a significant number of femicide deaths are committed by individuals with whom the victim shared an intimate relationship. While the specific nature of these conflicts can vary, the prevalence of physical intimacy in such relationships certainly raises the possibility that disputes, including those related to sexual infidelity, are a contributing factor in these devastating outcomes.

The month of January tragically recorded the highest number of femicide cases compared to any other month. This aligns with a common societal observation that January can be a period of heightened stress, driven by the financial strain of the festive season, the pressure of new year resolutions, and the weight of fresh responsibilities. While drawing direct causal links is complex and requires deeper study, this temporal correlation presents a compelling observation that warrants further investigation and could offer critical insights into potential triggers or exacerbating factors for gender-based violence.

Shifting our focus from the timeline to the geography of femicide in Kenya, a critical pattern emerges: the concentration of cases in urban centers. 

Nairobi, as the capital, tragically records the highest number of femicides, with Nakuru following closely, accounting for approximately 57 of the 507 recorded deaths. However, any analysis of these figures must consider the pervasive challenge of underreporting. It is highly probable that the true number of femicides in these, and indeed all, areas is significantly higher than currently documented, meaning the recorded deaths should be understood as conservative baselines.

After further examination of the killing methods used in femicides, a pattern of profound brutality ahs been revealed. Stabbing emerges as a highly frequent method, often accompanied by the use of blunt force and dismemberment. Such acts are inherently gruesome, pointing to the disturbing reality that suspects execute these murders with a chilling absence of mercy, utterly disregarding the humanity of their victims.

The horrifying reality of femicide in Kenya paints a grim picture, with the motives behind many of these brutal murders remaining agonizingly unclear. In cases where motives are identified, a disturbing pattern emerges: heated arguments, painful breakups, or consuming jealousy often escalate into lethal violence. These are the devastating factors frequently cited in the murders of wives, girlfriends, and even strangers by suspects.

Justice for femicide cases is often unclear. Most alleged killers never have their verdicts made public or resolved. For the few known outcomes, some are found guilty, others get specific jail terms like 15 years. This lack of clear results makes us wonder if suspects aren't being charged, if cases are secretly dropped, or if outcomes just aren't documented. Because of this, many suspects stay unproven, neither guilty nor innocent. This widespread secrecy makes the authorities and legal system look unreliable.

The analysis mainly used information from news outlets, including Standard Media Group and Nation Group. We relied most on 'The Star' newspaper, which often reports important details on current national issues.

The data shows femicide isn't new, but it's finally being seen, especially with 2024's high numbers. This crisis tragically takes women's lives, often in their prime. Justice for victims is often unclear, with many alleged killers having no public verdict. This long, tough fight is about protecting lives, not just statistics. For a truly safe society, we must also shine a light on the violence that claims the lives of men and children, ensuring safety for all. Shout out to all online outreach and helplines like Usikimye and all news outlets like The Star for constantly keeping us informed. Thanks to Africa Data hub for open source data that enabled this analysis.

PS: I would recommend carrying pepper spray or hand sanitizer in a spray bottle!!

#EndFemicideKE

#USIKIMYE!