KENYA: Femicide in Kenya “Warrants Urgent Attention,” Bishop Raises Alarm

Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA

Following a public outcry against a wave of femicide in Kenya that has led to loss of lives in the recent, a Catholic Bishop has raised concern calling the society to act urgently in combating the violence against women and girls, which threatens the moral fabric of society.

“In recent months, Kenya has witnessed a troubling pattern of women losing their lives in gruesome murders and under unclear circumstances,” Bishop Simon Peter Kamomoe one of the Auxiliary bishops of Nairobi Archdiocese lamented in a statement shared Thursday, November 21, stressing that, “Such acts are not only a grave violation of human rights but also a deeply concerning trend that warrants urgent attention.”

The Vice-Chairman for the Commission for Education and Religious Education at the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) while reflecting on the Gospel of Mathew Matthew 7: 15, “You will know them by their fruit,” pointed out that the society will be judged by the way it treats the defenceless.

“Our society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable members. Our sisters and mothers, who are among the most vulnerable, require our protection and deserve to feel safe rather than live in fear for their lives,” Bishop Kamomoe said and emphasized, “While we support the government in its efforts to address this menace, we, the Archdiocese of Nairobi, in collaboration with the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action, call upon all Christians and people of goodwill to act as our sister’s keeper.”

The Bishops message comes in the wake of the Head of State’s on the campaign on against femicide in the country.

“I urge every Kenyan to join in this movement (Initiative dubbed the Safe Homes, Safe Spaces campaign), to speak out, educate, and stand united against cases of femicide. Our communities need education on signs and causes of abuse and the resources available to victims,” President William Ruto had shared in his address to Kenyans.

In Kenya’s Constitution, Article 26(3) “A person shall not be deprived of life intentionally, except to the extent authorised by this Constitution or other written law,” hence in the rising cases of femicide, the society need to be reminded to respect people’s lives.

Bishop Kamomoe further urged parents in his message to Clergy, Religious Men and Women, all Christians, and People of Goodwill in the Archdiocese of Nairobi to ensure the safety of their children, especially during these long holidays, when they may often be left alone at home.

“Taking personal responsibility to be “my sister’s keeper” is a vital step in ensuring that the women around us-be they spouses, colleagues, family members, or friends-feel secure,” he said adding that, “the act of care and protection reflects our Christian values of love and respect for one another.”

He concluded pointing out that the statement written to the people of God is to raise awareness on the role of society in ensuring the safety of all women saying, “We call upon you to report any suspicious circumstances to the police and advice our children to stay away from strangers. Together, we can work to end gender-based violence and femicide in our society.”