**Fatshimétrie: The fight against violence against women in Kenya**
The streets of Nairobi still echo with the cries of protest, determined footsteps and waving banners. Last Monday, as the world marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Kenyan police used tear gas to disperse a peaceful march. An event that shed a harsh light on the alarming reality of gender-based violence in the country.
The protesters vigorously denounced the response of the security forces, highlighting a lack of government action on this burning issue. Nairobi resident Waithira Karanja, a spokesperson for the crowd, spoke forcefully: “The police should be protecting us, but they are the ones killing us. That is why they do not want us to protest against these killings of women. We demand accountability.”
Kenyan police agencies have reported 97 cases of femicides that occurred in different parts of the country in the last three months alone. However, activists point out that many cases remain unreported. Kenyan President William Ruto himself has expressed his dismay at the alarming rise in such cases and called for collective efforts to protect women from gender-based violence.
As the world began the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, social justice activist Happy Olal criticized the Kenyan government for its lack of tangible action. “Ruto cannot just acknowledge that femicides exist. He must act. How many people have been arrested this year for these crimes? How many?” he said vehemently.
The United Nations has released alarming figures: 85,000 women and girls were intentionally killed in 2023, 60% of whom died at the hands of their partner or close relative. Africa was particularly affected, with 21,700 victims out of 51,100 murders committed by an intimate partner or family member. The continent also has the highest number of victims relative to its population, with 2.9 victims per 100,000 inhabitants.
This grim picture underscores the urgency to act, to protect women and to end gender-based violence. Protests, calls for action and social mobilization are all ways to make victims’ voices heard and to hold accountable those who violate women’s dignity and rights. The battle continues, on the streets of Nairobi and beyond, for a world where violence against women is a dark memory of the past.