President William Ruto's advisor on women's rights Harriette Chiggai has recommended stiffer penalties against femicide perpetrators.
Speaking on Friday, January 19, 2024, Chiggai promised that the government is committed to ending all forms of violence.
"I have seen comments from different quarters stating that our children, Starlet Wahu, Rita Waeni and just yesterday, a woman who was killed by her husband deserved to be killed! These and many other women and girls have suffered the fate of violence that we as a society have refused to address. My condolences to the families that are in pain today," Chiggai stated.
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"Let me reiterate that the Government in its women's agenda explicitly committed to ending all forms of violence. This work cannot be done by one arm of the government, neither one organization nor one person. It has to be an effort, bringing together all of us as a nation."
Chiggai promised that all perpetrators of recent femicide cases would be nabbed and brought to book.
"It is my commitment and that of the government to do all within our power first to nab the suspects but to also urge the judiciary to expedite cases of intimate partner violence. To that effect, I continue engaging and working together with the judiciary to see how best we can ensure survivors are treated with dignity in cotes and that these cases do not delay," she added.
"I also commit to working with my sisters in Parliament to push for stiffer penalties as well as recognise that intimate partner violence cases are acknowledged for their misogynistic nature.
As the gender data champion in Government, I have been discussing how to ensure that we have good frameworks to collect data. As we all know, data informs policy and better practice."
Don't victimize femicide victims
The women's rights champion also urged society to shun victim blaming and shaming femicide victims, saying that such behaviour is an injustice to them.
She has also urged religious leaders to use their platforms to educate their followers on women's rights and the importance of upholding them.
"The government is committed to ensuring that the structures that respond and support survivors do not re-victimize them. Matters psychosocial support and safe spaces for women and children are a priority in my office. We will be doing county visits to engage with women and children and I am looking forward to hearing solutions from the communities that will show how best the government responds to the women of this country," she added.
"Let's be mindful that we do not add the cold rain of judgment to their already-soaked spirits. Let us be sensitive to the families that have lost their loved ones. They need our love and compassion and not rebuke. By re-victimizing the dead we are akin to dancing on the graves of women who have fallen victim to people they trusted Let us put all our hands on deck from wherever we are to respond to these heinous crimes," she said.
Chiggai has also urged young ladies to exercise caution on how and with whom they interact on social platforms.
"This is because GBV has now taken the form of technologically facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV)," she said.
