Overview
- Hundreds of women marched through central Nairobi on Monday carrying coffins and placards to press the government to treat rising gender-based killings as a national crisis.
- Independent data firms report at least 69 women have been killed since January while the government says 10,581 children have gone missing over the past 16 months.
- Police announced a specialized investigative unit on May 23 that combines intelligence analysts, forensic experts and homicide investigators but activists say the unit and a taskforce set up last year by President William Ruto have not produced meaningful results.
- Campaigners and groups such as FIDA Kenya say the country faces heavy caseloads with about 70 gender-based violence cases reported to its offices each week and many killings going unclassified under current law because femicide is not a distinct offence.
- Lobby groups issued a 40-day ultimatum on May 21 and protesters warn that failures to act could trigger wider nationwide demonstrations while families seek faster investigations, stronger penalties and more support.