Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina has introduced several proposals to address the increasing incidents of femicides and missing children nationwide.
During a statement on Tuesday, May 26, the legislator emphasized the need for immediate and collaborative efforts, highlighting that the persistent murder of women and disappearance of children reflected fundamental shortcomings in institutions responsible for safeguarding citizens.
Her suggested measures include creating a multi-agency rapid response team, enhancing forensic and investigation capabilities, and decentralizing specialized Gender-Based Violence (GBV) courts.
The outspoken representative also advocated for connecting these initiatives with local police stations through red alert notification systems.
The legislator stated, ‘The distressing increase in femicide and child disappearance cases in Kenya constitutes a national emergency requiring immediate, unified, and persistent intervention from all government branches and society as a whole.’
The parliamentarian additionally called for gender-responsive budget allocations, development of community-based preventive mechanisms, increased funding for child protection programs, specialized training for officers managing these cases, enhanced investment in mental health resources, and nationwide awareness campaigns.
She further encouraged county administrations to establish Gender-Based Violence (GBV) rescue facilities to offer immediate aid to victims and at-risk children.
The representative noted that Kenya’s approach to gender-based violence and child disappearances has been disjointed and reactive rather than preventative and systematic.
During her address, Njeri criticized the government for delayed investigations, inadequate forensic capabilities, negligence, attitudes that blame victims, and failure to address warning signs before situations deteriorate.
The representative remarked, ‘Although such statements heighten awareness and recognize the crisis, considerable disparities persist between recognition and actual implementation.’
The parliamentarian also censured the government for inadequate execution of both international and domestic legal frameworks, despite Kenya’s ratification of agreements like the Palermo Protocol and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
While condemning the government’s hesitation to address the problem, she asserted that safeguarding women and children is a constitutional duty rather than charitable work.
Njeri added, ‘Protecting women and children is not charity. It is justice, constitutional duty, and a human rights requirement.’
The representative also challenged the government to enhance transparency through regular publication of statistics on femicide and missing children cases.
Her comments come at a time of mounting public anxiety regarding rising reports of women being murdered and children vanishing under unexplained conditions across various regions of the nation.