Ruto Issues Orders To DCI Over Femicide Cases: Face The Criminals

Following pressure from women groups to address the rise in femicide cases which have seen several women and girls killed across the country, President William Ruto has issued instructions to the homicide detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

Speaking on Friday, November 1 during the swearing-in of Kithure Kindiki as Deputy President, Ruto directed the DCI to initiate an immediate probe into the resurging femicide menace.

The DCI officers were instructed by the Head of State to work closely with other security agencies and investigate the matter to completion.

"I know that recently, we have seen incidents of our girls, our mothers, and women who have been murdered in cold blood. Let me say this, the DCI and all the investigative authorities in Kenya must stand up to these criminals," Ruto commented.

In his directive, President Ruto reiterated the government's commitment to ending cases of femicide in the country and that the government would deal decisively with those found culpable of committing the heinous crime.

At the same address, the Head of State urged Kenyans to be careful about individuals with ill intentions of luring young girls and women into traps that threaten their security.

"I want to ask Kenyans to be careful with people, particularly strangers who lure girls and women to situations that compromise their security. We must be on the lookout as a nation, this is yet another moment, another beginning," the Head of State asserted.

This comes days after the Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya) demanded that President Ruto address the nation from the State House and consider declaring the vice, which dominated news headlines in January this year and 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."

Statistics released by Deputy Inspector General (IG) of Police Eliud Langat's statement reveal that at least 97 women have been killed in the past three months, with Lagat, who addressed the press on Wednesday, October 30 admitting that there had been a sharp rise in cases of femicide as he called for concerted efforts to end it.

“We urge every member of society, including governmental, civil, and religious leaders, to engage in this crucial dialogue,” Lagat commented.

According to Lagat, through thorough comprehensive strategies and collaborative efforts with various stakeholders, a safe environment would be established and the cases of femicide would be investigated to a conclusion.

“About 90 per cent of femicide cases have been thoroughly investigated, resulting in the arrest of suspects, with these cases now pending in courts,” he added.