Churches, Mosques Under Fire Ahead Of Nationwide Protests Against Femicide

Amidst the planned nationwide feminist march set for between Friday, January 26 and Saturday, January 27, churches and other religious organisations have now been put on the spot for failing to speak out against the alarming rise of femicide cases in Kenya.

Njeri wa Migwi, a human rights advocate and the founder of Usikimye, a non-profit dedicated to eradicating sexual and gender-based violence, pointed an accusing finger at religious organisations for what she termed was ignorance on their part in addressing the issue of gender-based violence in the country.

Speaking in a recent interview on The Social Newsroom, Wa Migwi faulted the religious bodies for failing to accord spaces for congregants to address the matter that has prominently seen murders such as Starlet Wahu and Rita Waeni take place one week apart from each other and causing nationwide uproar.

Njeri wa Migwi speaking in an interview with The Social Newsroom on January 22, 2024. /THE SOCIAL NEWSROOM

"So in your religious spaces, how many women are going through gender-based violence? 1 in 3. Do those religions give space to speak about GBV? I need churches and mosques and whatever else organised religion to start speaking about these issues," she slammed.

"I have not seen a comment from religion. I have not seen...I look out for these things and I'm very careful. This is why I don't mess around with churches, religion and politicians because nowadays I feel that they are two sides of the same coin."

The activist cornered churches, boldly accusing them of double standards by giving politicians a platform to address the audience compared to bringing up social issues, including GBV, politicians that also include President William Ruto.

She thus challenged churches to come up with methods of addressing the GBV matter and educating their congregant on the dangers of GBV and femicide in a bid to rid the country of sexual and gender-based violence.

"You platform politicians in your churches but you don't platform the issues, churches are supposed to be bringing consciousness to social issues. GBV is a problem in this country and if 1 in 3, that means a third of your congregation is going through gender-based violence. 

"As a church, what are you doing? What are you speaking about? When you say you are nourishing your flock, what are you nourishing them with? What are you giving them to go back home, are you telling them that the medicine is to endure, we endure till death?" she posed.

At the time of publishing this article, neither religious organisation, which includes the prominent-speaking National Council of Churches in Kenya (NCCK), had yet to issue a statement on the worrying issue of femicide in the country.

Meanwhile, the anti-femicide demonstrations now operating under the social media hashtag #TotalShutDownKE that will take place at Jeevanjee Gardens in Nairobi from 10.00 am have seen towns such as Kisumu, Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kilifi, Machakos, Busia and Nyeri all join.

However, the protests in Nyeri will take place on Friday, January 26 while the rest of the major towns will hold theirs the following day.