CJ Koome Breaks Silence On Murder Of 97 Women In Three Months

Chief Justice Martha Koome on Thursday, October 31 spoke on the alarming cases of femicide in the country, a day after the National Police Service (NPS) revealed that 97 women have been killed in the past three months.

Speaking while launching the National Child Justice Month in Kiambu, the Chief Justice called upon Kenyans to be alive to the resurgence of femicide cases in the country in recent weeks.

The CJ stressed that women and girls in the community are at the moment very vulnerable, adding that the tragic cases of sexual assault and brutal murders of women and girls laid bare the profound failure in the collective duty of protecting the most vulnerable.

“As we address the protection and dignity of children in conflict with the law, our conscience cannot ignore the shadows cast over our society by the rising scourge of femicide.” the CJ noted.

“Women and girls in our communities - those who are our daughters, sisters, mothers, and friends - are enduring unspeakable violence."

The Chief Justice called upon every Kenyan to speak up and commit to ensuring that the systems that facilitate violent crimes are torn down, adding that the legal system would not be enough to combat the terror of femicide in the country, handing Kenyans the special role in combating the vice.

The CJ added that police officers, community leaders, and all citizens must join hands to work together to ensure that girls and women are safe in their homes, schools, workplaces, and neighbourhoods.

"To every Kenyan, I say this: we must break the silence. We must speak out, and dismantle the systems that allow such heinous acts to go unchecked. Why would somebody have the confidence to think that they can take away the life of another? The life of a woman, a girl," she posed, adding that preventing violence against women and girls is not just a legal responsibility; it is a moral duty shared by each person.

"We must commit to creating communities where women and girls feel safe, valued, and respected. Combating femicide requires not just legal intervention but societal transformation, an unwavering belief that no woman or girl should ever feel her life is disposable."

Stressing on this issue, CJ Koome believes a multi-sectoral approach can help tackle the issue. “This alarming state of crisis demands action from every corner of our society. I call upon all law enforcement agencies, agencies in the justice sector, social services, and civil society organizations to intensify their vigilance and protective measures,” said the Chief Justice.  

Amidst the uproar over femicide in the country, the Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya) demanded that President William Ruto address the nation from the State House and consider declaring the vice, which dominated news headlines in January this year and which led to anti-femicide protests, a national disaster and a crisis of public proportions.

The group also urged President Ruto to urgently direct security officers across the country to expedite the probe of all feminicide cases and arrest all the perpetrators within 14 days. 

Parliament and Judiciary were also included in FIDA's demands, amidst its commitment to advancing legislative reforms to introduce femicide as a standalone crime within the Penal Code. The two arms of government were urged to support this amendment to ensure that crimes specifically targeting women based on gender are met with appropriate legal consequences and action.

FIDA warned that failure for action to be taken by the government in the next 30 days would force the group to consider other options that include "mobilising a nationwide picketing of women to demand our right to safety and justice."