Form a special team to investigate and prosecute GBV, femicide perpetrators

By Deborah Monari and Dambalash Ermiyas

The recent arrest of Collins Jumaisi Khalusha, a suspect who has confessed to the horrific murders of 42 women in Nairobi, has sent shockwaves through Kenya. The gruesome discovery of nine mutilated and dismembered bodies in the Mukuru slum area is a grim reminder of the pervasive and escalating violence against women in our country. This tragedy is not an isolated incident but part of a larger, deeply rooted issue that continues to threaten the safety and lives of Kenyan women.

In recent years, Kenya has seen a disturbing rise in cases of violence against women, particularly intimate partner violence. This year’s “Dark Valentine’s Day” commemorated the lives lost to femicide, underscoring the urgent need for societal and governmental intervention. Despite widespread outrage and calls for justice, the legal system has repeatedly failed to protect victims and hold perpetrators accountable.

The brutal acts committed by Khalusha expose the underlying issues of gender-based violence that plague our society. These acts are often fueled by deeply ingrained patriarchal norms, economic disparities, and inadequate legal protection for women. Many women suffer in silence, fearing retribution and stigmatization. The Mukuru slum case is an illustration of the extreme dangers women face, with many feeling unsafe even in their own homes.

The Kenyan government’s response to gender-based violence has been woefully inadequate. There is a growing perception that authorities are more reactive than proactive, often waiting for public outcry before taking any meaningful action. This lack of accountability is infuriating for a populace that has repeatedly called for stronger protective measures and more severe penalties for offenders.

Social media has become a platform for victims and advocates to voice their anger and frustration, demanding justice and systemic change. Yet, despite the outcry, little has changed on the ground. Women continue to live in fear, knowing that the system meant to protect them is broken.

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To address this crisis, the Kenyan government must act decisively and expeditiously. This entails strengthening laws and policies designed to protect women from violence based on their gender, raising funds for services, as well as providing adequate resources needed to carry out investigations and prosecutions. Additionally, the state must adopt campaigns that are focused on challenging patriarchal norms and promoting a culture of respect and equality.

Moreover, people should also be encouraged to actively participate in advocating for safe environments that will promote women’s rights through speaking against gender-based violence, reporting cases of violence or abuse against them, and calling for changes. As such we ask Kenyans to gather around a common cause; justice, equality, and an end to this nonsense.

For instance, we suggest that there should be a special team specifically tasked with investigating and prosecuting all forms of gender-based violence. They ought to train law enforcement agencies on how best they can handle these cases. Furthermore, there is a need to provide more funding to community-based organisations which offer counselling services especially because they sometimes work as intermediary agencies among survivors.

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We must act fast if we don’t want more tragedies like the Mukuru slum case, for this society to be created where women live without fear or violence will require action by the government, civil society, and ordinary citizens working together. The ones who have suffered from sexual abuse due to their sex, deserve better treatment hence our debt towards them.

Deborah Monari and Dambalash Ermiyas are Nguvu Change Leaders.