Nominated Senator, Nyamu, has been vocal about her efforts to address the alarming rise of femicide in Kenya, urging for urgent action to combat this growing crisis. Through her advocacy, she has highlighted the need for femicide to be declared a national disaster, a call that has garnered both support and controversy across the country.
During a recent public address, Nyamu emphasized the gravity of the issue, underscoring the need for the nation to urgently refocus its resources and efforts on the widespread violence targeting women. “We have been saying, and even activists have been calling for it, we want femicide to be declared a national disaster,” Nyamu remarked. She argued that designating femicide as a national disaster would not only raise awareness but also ensure that more resources and funding are allocated to address the issue effectively.
Despite widespread protests and activism against femicide, the incidents continue to rise. Nyamu’s statement that “we continue to record incidents as late as yesterday!” reflects her concern that, despite efforts to curb the violence, it seems to be spiraling out of control. One of the most distressing aspects of the ongoing crisis, as pointed out by Nyamu, is the lack of safety even among trusted social institutions, including the church. “Apparently, we aren’t safe even with our church leaders!” she exclaimed, calling for a national response to the issue.
Nyamu also highlighted the urgent need for legal reforms, specifically in how the justice system handles femicide cases. One of her most significant proposals is to amend the law to deny bail to perpetrators of femicide. She argued that many perpetrators are granted bail, sometimes as low as Sh100,000, which allows them to return to the streets and commit the same crime again. “When you are accused of femicide, that right to bail should be denied,” Nyamu explained. “There should not be an option at all to get bail or a surety as you wait for your case.” She noted that such amendments would send a strong message that femicide will not be tolerated and that those accused of this heinous crime will not be allowed to walk free while awaiting trial.
Nyamu’s push for legislative change reflects her commitment to making femicide a national priority, but it also draws attention to the broader societal issues that fuel gender-based violence in Kenya. The senator criticized the tendency to blame victims, an issue that often surfaces in the aftermath of femicide cases. She condemned the questions often posed to victims, such as “What was she wearing?” or “Why was she money hungry?” “When we blame the victim, we remove the killer from blame,” Nyamu asserted, urging Kenyans to shift the conversation away from victim-blaming and focus on holding perpetrators accountable.
As part of her broader plan to address femicide, Nyamu has called on her colleagues in the Senate to support her proposed changes to the law. “I did this last week, and we will debate it in the Senate. I call on my fellow senators to support this, especially the male senators. We really need their support,” she said, emphasizing that the fight against femicide requires broad-based, bipartisan support. She stressed that ending femicide is not just a women’s issue, but a societal issue that requires collective action.
The senator’s efforts reflect growing concern about the increasing rates of violence against women in Kenya. In recent years, there has been an alarming rise in femicide cases, with many women falling victim to intimate partner violence and other forms of gender-based violence. Nyamu’s calls for stronger legislation, national focus, and societal change resonate with many women’s rights activists who have long advocated for greater protections for women and girls.
While the proposed amendments and calls for femicide to be declared a national disaster have garnered support from some quarters, they have also faced criticism from those who question the feasibility of such measures or argue that they do not address the root causes of violence. Nonetheless, Nyamu’s stance on the issue reflects a growing determination to tackle femicide head-on, ensuring that women’s safety is given the urgency and attention it deserves.
As the debate continues, it is clear that the issue of femicide in Kenya is not going away anytime soon. Nyamu’s advocacy serves as a reminder of the urgent need for stronger legal protections, societal change, and national action to end violence against women and ensure that femicide is met with the full force of the law.
