Endless killing of women catches Matiang’i’s attention

By , K24 Digital
On Thu, 21 Nov, 2019 17:49 | 2 mins read
Fred Matiang'i
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i (left) honouring a prison warder for exemplary service at Ruiru Prisons Staff College, Thursday, November 21, 2019. Behind him is Public Service, Gender and Youth Cabinet Secretary Prof. Margaret Kobia. PHOTO | KNA

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i has raised concern over the increased levels of cold-blooded murders of women and children in recent days, saying action needs to be taken to stem the vice.

Dr Matiang’i said solutions have to be sought as a matter of urgency, adding that the country cannot move forward with such levels of violence.

Speaking during a correctional services women leadership forum at Ruiru Prisons Staff College on Thursday, CS Matiang’i said he will convene a meeting with non-state actors and government agencies to address the issue.

In some cases, he said, the violence has been meted by his officers on their own families.

Last week, Peter Mwaura, who is a military officer based at the Laikipia Airbase in Nanyuki, was arrested after he was accused of murdering his wife and two children in cold-blood on October 26.

Their bodies were recovered in a shallow grave in Laikipia County on November 16.

Several cases of men murdering their wives have also been reported in the recent months.

“What we are witnessing is not normal.  I feel the responsibility of it as a leader. We can’t live this way where we are butchering our wives and murdering children in an unprecedented manner. There is nothing that justifies this. There is nothing cultural about this. It is something we have to deal with urgently,” said CS Matiang’i.

Mentor men

Matiang’i called on faith-based organisations to also play their role in mentoring men to become responsible and respecters of women rights.

The Interior CS also raised concerns over lack of child-friendly police stations, to allow children report cases of violence and family problems.

Dr Matiang’i said he will be meeting the National Police Service and the Inspector-General and other government agencies to address the matter.

He was accompanied by CSs Margaret Kobia (Gender, Youth and Public Service), Rachael Omamo (Defence) Faridah Karoney (Lands) and Monica Juma (Foreign Affairs).

The women CSs called for active participation for women in leadership, saying the country was moving towards achieving the two-thirds gender rule.

“The latest census results showed that women population is at 52 per cent and we ask for positions to spread in the same manner. Judiciary has 42 per cent women, Parliament has 20-30 percent and Executive has 30-40 percent. More needs to be done,” said Ms Juma.