An unconfirmed number of human rights activists and citizens, predominantly women, were arrested on Tuesday, 10 December, in Nairobi, Kenya, during an ‘end femicide’ protest. The arrests came on the day the world was celebrating International Human Rights Day, a global occasion to honour the protection of human rights.
Femicide has been a persisting reality in Kenya for decades. In January alone this year, an average of one woman was killed every day, with data by Femicide Count Kenya showing that the number surged to almost 200 as of November. In 2023, Africa reported a terrifying 21,700 femicides, the highest in the world.
In an attempt to raise awareness, the protesters – human rights activists, women, men, and civil societies – headed to the President’s office chanting, ‘Stop killing women’’, “Teach your sons!” Others carried placards with slogans such as ‘Stop killing us,’ ‘Say their names,’ while others bore the names of the victims.
What began as a peaceful demonstration at Jevanjee Gardens, a public park in Nairobi, descended into chaos when police used teargas to disperse the crowd of protesters. Amid the chaos, human rights activists and ordinary citizens, among them Amnesty International Kenya Executive Director, Irungu Houghton, were arrested according to a statement by Amnesty International.
“The excessive force and unwarranted arrests not only violate national and international human rights laws but also send a chilling message to all those advocating for justice and accountability. These actions undermine the rule of law and reinforce the impunity that perpetuates violence against women,” the statement read.
“I came here to protest against violence against women. But look at my arms and face; I am bruised by the same police who are supposed to protect me,” Agnes Atieno, a protestor, told journalists.
Speaking to Citizen TV, Tisa Executive Director, Diana Gichengo, criticized the government and the President for what she described as a contradiction to their stance on femicide. She pointed out that while the President had previously vowed to combat femicide and protect women, the government’s actions during the protests – where women advocating for their safety were met with brutal force – demonstrated a failure to uphold this promise.
“The President directs that the police must take all measures to protect women, but when they take to the street to even express that enough is not being done, they are met with brutal force,” she said.
Gichengo emphasized that such incidents highlight a troubling trend of shrinking democratic freedoms, undermining citizens’ right to peaceful protest and expression.
Meanwhile, women activists have urged the President to declare femicide a national disaster, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the escalating violence against women. They have called on both the government and the judiciary to act swiftly to ensure justice for victims while implementing a comprehensive and robust response to prevent further killings and protect women across the country.
