Thousands of Kenyans gathered in Nairobi’s Central Business District on Monday to demonstrate against the increasing prevalence of femicide and infanticide cases.
Participants urged President William Ruto to declare femicide a national emergency.
The protesters, representing various groups and organizations, marched through the city’s main thoroughfares displaying banners and voicing demands for justice for victims of gender-based violence.
Many demonstrators held signs with messages like “Stop killing women” as they voiced alarm at the surge in killings of women and children throughout the nation.
Labeled as an anti-femicide and anti-infanticide rally, the event sought to compel authorities to implement immediate actions to counter the rising pattern of violence against women and children.
Activists called for enhanced law enforcement, quicker investigations, and harsher measures against offenders, stating that the murders have reached critical dimensions and necessitate a unified national approach.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga was among the notable figures participating in the demonstrations.
As they proceeded through the CBD, protesters sang songs, displayed placards, and implored leaders to give precedence to the protection of women and children, emphasizing that every life lost to femicide or infanticide signifies a breakdown of societal and judicial systems.
The protesters asserted that designating femicide as a national crisis would facilitate resource mobilization, reinforce preventive initiatives, and ensure responsibility for those involved in the murders.