PRESS STATEMENT: FIDA-Kenya Condemns the Brutal Murder of Six Innocent Women

Nairobi, 23^rd October 2024 – The Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya) is deeply saddened and outraged by the shocking and brutal murders of six women of different ages from different parts of the country reported over the last three days. On Monday, 21st October 2024, the bodies of Amina Abdi Rashid Dahir, her daughter (22 years), and her niece (12 years) were discovered in Machakos, Park Road, and Bahati areas after they had gone missing from Eastleigh, Nairobi. According to the police, the same person likely killed all three.

Similarly, the body of Seth Nyakio Njeri, a 23-year-old Zetech University graduate, was found in her house in Thika on 14th October 2024. In another incident, Christine Nyakio, a 24-year-old woman from Ngong, was also found murdered in a swamp on 21st October 2024 after disappearing from her home. In Kisumu County, another woman’s body was discovered along Kisumu-Busia Road. Sadly, these six gruesome murders highlight the disturbing trend of femicide cases that continue to plague our nation.

FIDA-Kenya extends its deepest condolences to the families and friends of these women. Their senseless deaths are not only a personal tragedy but also a reflection of the growing insecurity and disregard for women’s and girls’ lives in our society. These crimes must NOT GO UNRESOLVED. We strongly condemn these heinous acts of femicide and call upon law enforcement agencies to prioritize these cases and ensure that the victims and their families receive justice.

The alarming rise in femicide cases is unacceptable. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! It is clear that women and girls in Kenya are facing a severe threat to their security and safety; therefore, the government, security agencies, and all stakeholders must take immediate and concrete steps to enhance the protection of women and ensure that such atrocities do not continue. We must take an active role in safeguarding the lives and dignity of women and girls. We, therefore, call for increased vigilance, protection mechanisms, and support for women, especially those in high-risk areas.

FIDA-Kenya demands that the Government of Kenya deploys all necessary and available resources towards the investigation and prosecution of all perpetrators of femicide. The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Douglas Kanja, must come out publicly and assure all women and girls of their safety. We will not accept to normalize the daily killings of women and girls that are currently being reported.

As we mourn the tragic loss of these women, we stand in solidarity with their families and loved ones. FIDA-Kenya reaffirms its commitment to advocating for the protection of women’s rights and ensuring that no woman’s life is cut short by senseless violence. We further wish to assure the public that FIDA-Kenya will not stop at this; femicide must be declared a national disaster in Kenya.

Christine Kungu

FIDA-Kenya Chairperson.

For media enquiries, please Mark Owuor Otieno on owuorm@fidakenya.org OR Call: Tel: 254 202 2604043/4 Mobile: 254-722509760/ 254710607241