NAKURU, Kenya – Nakuru County is facing a chilling wave of femicide, sparking outrage among women’s rights organizations as the death toll of women and young girls continues to rise under horrifying circumstances.
The Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya) and the International Commission of Jurists, Kenya Section (ICJ Kenya) have condemned the escalating violence, calling for swift justice and intensified efforts to combat the growing menace.
In a joint statement issued on Friday, the two organizations highlighted the alarming increase in brutal killings across Nakuru.
These cases often involve severe sexual violence, followed by murder through methods such as strangulation, mutilation, or burning.
“We are deeply disturbed by the recent surge in femicide in Nakuru, where women and girls are being subjected to unimaginable acts of violence,” the statement read. “These crimes reflect a deeply entrenched hatred towards women.”
The rights groups pointed to recent high-profile cases, including the tragic death of 34-year-old Florence Mueni.
Mueni’s body was discovered on August 6, 2024, in a maize field near her home in Kalyet Estate, Rongai.
Her murder, which bore the hallmarks of extreme violence, has left the local community reeling.
“Mueni’s brutal killing is not an isolated incident,” the statement continued, noting that similar cases have unfolded in the region over the past months. “In 2022 alone, six women lost their lives in eerily similar circumstances, yet justice remains elusive.”
The organizations also brought attention to the murders of five-year-old Alice Ayuma and 30-year-old Vera Mugambi, both of whom were killed under similarly heinous conditions, with their bodies found abandoned in maize fields.
These repeated patterns of violence have left Nakuru’s women and girls living in fear.
FIDA-Kenya and ICJ Kenya have called on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to take immediate and decisive action.
They demand that all available forensic and investigative resources be deployed to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
Additionally, the organizations urged the government to enhance police presence and patrols in Nakuru and other areas identified as high-risk for sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and femicide.
They advocate for stronger community policing efforts to foster collaboration between law enforcement and local communities, aimed at protecting vulnerable individuals.
“These tragic deaths are a severe violation of the right to life, which the Constitution of Kenya protects,” the statement emphasized. “We must ensure that the lives of women and girls are safeguarded, and that justice is served for those whose lives have been brutally cut short.”
FIDA-Kenya and ICJ Kenya also recommended the formation of a special task force dedicated to investigating and addressing the rise in SGBV and femicide cases across the country.
They urged for comprehensive support for survivors, including legal assistance and psychosocial help, to ensure that victims of violence receive the care and justice they deserve.
The Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya) and the International Commission of Jurists, Kenya Section (ICJ Kenya) have condemned the escalating violence, calling for swift justice and intensified efforts to combat the growing menace.
In a joint statement issued on Friday, the two organizations highlighted the alarming increase in brutal killings across Nakuru.
These cases often involve severe sexual violence, followed by murder through methods such as strangulation, mutilation, or burning.
“We are deeply disturbed by the recent surge in femicide in Nakuru, where women and girls are being subjected to unimaginable acts of violence,” the statement read. “These crimes reflect a deeply entrenched hatred towards women.”
The rights groups pointed to recent high-profile cases, including the tragic death of 34-year-old Florence Mueni.
Mueni’s body was discovered on August 6, 2024, in a maize field near her home in Kalyet Estate, Rongai.
Her murder, which bore the hallmarks of extreme violence, has left the local community reeling.
“Mueni’s brutal killing is not an isolated incident,” the statement continued, noting that similar cases have unfolded in the region over the past months. “In 2022 alone, six women lost their lives in eerily similar circumstances, yet justice remains elusive.”
The organizations also brought attention to the murders of five-year-old Alice Ayuma and 30-year-old Vera Mugambi, both of whom were killed under similarly heinous conditions, with their bodies found abandoned in maize fields.
These repeated patterns of violence have left Nakuru’s women and girls living in fear.
FIDA-Kenya and ICJ Kenya have called on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to take immediate and decisive action.
They demand that all available forensic and investigative resources be deployed to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
Additionally, the organizations urged the government to enhance police presence and patrols in Nakuru and other areas identified as high-risk for sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and femicide.
They advocate for stronger community policing efforts to foster collaboration between law enforcement and local communities, aimed at protecting vulnerable individuals.
“These tragic deaths are a severe violation of the right to life, which the Constitution of Kenya protects,” the statement emphasized. “We must ensure that the lives of women and girls are safeguarded, and that justice is served for those whose lives have been brutally cut short.”
FIDA-Kenya and ICJ Kenya also recommended the formation of a special task force dedicated to investigating and addressing the rise in SGBV and femicide cases across the country.
They urged for comprehensive support for survivors, including legal assistance and psychosocial help, to ensure that victims of violence receive the care and justice they deserve.
