NAIROBI, Kenya – Hundreds of young protestors flooded the streets of Nairobi on Tuesday to demand justice and action over rising cases of femicide and gender-based violence (GBV) in Kenya.
Undeterred by teargas and arrests, the demonstrators—mostly young women—chanted slogans, waved banners, and carried placards emblazoned with the names of victims whose lives were cut short in brutal attacks.
The protest marked the culmination of the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a global campaign that runs from November 25 to December 10 to highlight violence against women and girls.
This year’s movement took on new urgency in Kenya, where police records reveal that more than 97 women and girls were killed in just three months leading up to October 30.
Despite the peaceful nature of the march, authorities responded with force.
Police lobbed teargas into crowds as plainclothes officers rounded up demonstrators.
Among those detained was Amnesty International Kenya’s Executive Director Irungu Houghton, prompting widespread condemnation from human rights groups.
In a joint statement, Amnesty International Kenya, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), Human is My ID Alliance, and the End Femicide KE Movement condemned the police response as a “grave violation of human rights.”
“The violent response by police, including the arrest of these peaceful protestors, is a direct attack on Kenya’s democratic principles and the human rights of its citizens,” the statement read.
The organizations accused authorities of perpetuating a culture of impunity, where justice for victims of femicide remains elusive.
They demanded the immediate release of those detained and called on the Inspector General of Police to launch investigations into the violent crackdown.
“Authorities must expedite investigations into femicide cases, ensuring justice for the victims and their families,” the statement continued. “Law enforcement must respect Kenyans’ constitutional rights and ensure that peaceful demonstrators are protected, not persecuted.”
The protest echoed the spirit of earlier Gen Z-led demonstrations that rocked the Kenya Kwanza government.
Like then, the young protestors carried water to rinse their eyes from teargas, waved Kenyan flags, and braved the streets despite police intimidation.
Amidst clouds of teargas, the voices of the demonstrators remained clear: “End Femicide. End GBV. Justice for the victims.”
Some banners displayed stark reminders of lives lost, with names of women whose murders remain unsolved—a silent indictment of systemic failures to protect them.
The surge in femicide cases has fueled growing public frustration, particularly among Kenya’s youth.
Rights activists argue that justice remains painfully slow, with many cases stagnating due to inadequate investigations or legal hurdles.
For the protestors, however, the message was resolute: their fight will not end until real action is taken to stem the tide of femicide.
