DCI Rolls Out Special Unit To Investigate Femicide Cases

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Tuesday, January 30 introduced a specialized team with firm instructions to expedite investigations on serious sexual offences and murder incidents involving women.

DCI explained in a statement that the team derived from the investigative agency's Homicide Directorate was formed with a mission to put to an end the worrying trend of femicide in the country. 

The team comprising criminal intelligence analysts and forensic experts, will also partner with other stakeholders to come up with swift and comprehensive preventive strategies to address this atrocious violation of human rights. 

While briefing the team on the enormous task ahead of them, the Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin vowed to avail all capability and resources at his disposal for the team to deliver on its mandate

"These killings have cast a dark shadow over our safety and security endeavours; we must put this menace to end with remarkable speed and finality,” he emphasised. 

Between the years 2021 and 2024, a total of 94 cases of killings of women and girls were reported to the DCI and a total of 65 suspects were arraigned in various courts across the country in connection with the murders.  

The team was instructed to complete the pending investigations and ensure all those culpable were brought to book. 

Amin also made a passionate appeal to members of the public to volunteer any information that could aid in investigations or assist in the apprehension of perpetrators of these heinous acts through the toll-free DCI hotline 0800 722203

“There is a nexus between femicide and sexual violence. We know the perpetrators of these heinous crimes, let us expose them. Let us all join hands to defeat this evil," he added.

Femicide cases have been on the rise in 2024, with over 15 women murdered countrywide. Statistics amassed by Africa Data Hub reveal that in 75 per cent of cases, the femicide killings were committed by a person who knew the murdered woman - an intimate partner, relative or friend.

Nearly two-thirds of perpetrators were currently or had previously been in an intimate relationship with the victim, with husbands, and then boyfriends seen as the biggest culprits.

Husbands accounted for the most cases at 241 with boyfriends following at 130. Comparatively, in only about 15% of cases, the woman was killed by a stranger. 

"In most cases, the murder of a woman was committed due to a family quarrel. The reason for aggression on the part of a man towards a woman can be anything - any domestic issues or attempts by women to walk away from relationships.

"At the same time, men justify their actions by saying that they could not restrain themselves or were angry because the woman, in their opinion, did something wrong," stated Africa Data Hub in its report.

The most horrific of the murders in 2024 happened to a 20-year-old Jomo Kenyatta University (JKUAT) student, Rita Waeni, who was strangled and dismembered. This prompted women across the country to stage nationwide peaceful demonstrations on January 27, calling for an end to the killings.

The activists requested relevant authorities and stakeholders to enact policies and enforce existing ones to curb femicide cases. 

Protesters march in Nairobi CBD on January 27, 2024. /TOM MUKHWANA