Civil society organisations and human rights activists in Kisumu have renewed calls for urgent action to end the rising cases of femicide in Kenya, saying women and girls continue to lose their lives despite numerous promises and recommendations aimed at addressing gender-based violence.

The activists made the calls on June 1, 2026, urging the government to take concrete steps to protect women and girls from violence.

While addressing journalists, they said the country’s celebration of freedom would be meaningless if women and girls remain unsafe in their homes, schools, and communities.

The activists are rallying under the call ‘End Femicide Now Kenya’ to raise awareness about the increasing number of women and girls being killed across the country and to push for the implementation of recommendations made by the Presidential Working Group on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.

Kenya Female Advisory Organization (KEFEADO) representative Easter Achieng said the movement was tired of the continued loss of lives among women and girls.

According to Achieng, cases of women and girls being killed simply because they are women have become too common and require immediate intervention from the government.

She noted that Madaraka Day should not only be about political freedom but also about the freedom for every Kenyan to live safely without fear.

“We are tired of everyday cases of women and girls being killed just because they are women and girls,” Achieng said.

Gender-based violence and femicide task report

She urged President William Ruto’s administration to ensure full implementation of the task force report on gender-based violence and femicide.

Achieng said the government must allocate adequate resources, provide sufficient funding and strengthen legal systems to protect women and girls in all parts of the country.

“We are saying, can the President ensure that the implementation of the task force report is done in total? Can we get the money? Can we get the resources? And can we get the legal systems which protect women and girls wherever they are?” she added.

The calls were echoed by Maxie Daniel of Talanta Africa, who also serves as the coordinator of the End Femicide Movement Kisumu Chapter.

Daniel said discussions around femicide have gone on for years without meaningful action being taken to address the problem.

She observed that despite the establishment of a task force to investigate femicide and recommend solutions, little progress has been made in implementing the recommendations.

Lack of funding

According to Daniel, there is no dedicated funding to support interventions aimed at ending femicide, leaving many initiatives stalled.

She questioned the meaning of freedom for women in a country where cases of femicide continue to increase.

“As women, how free are we in our country when every day cases of femicide are on the rise and nothing is being done?” Daniel posed.

She further claimed that many reports made to authorities are not acted upon promptly, leaving victims vulnerable and families frustrated.

Daniel called on the government and security agencies to treat femicide cases with the seriousness they deserve and ensure justice for victims.

On his side, George Alambo, Chairperson of the Western Kenya Human Rights Network, who joined the campaign as a male champion against femicide, said the rising killings of women across the country had become a major concern that requires collective action from both government institutions and society.

He noted that Kisumu County had recently witnessed the death of a student under circumstances that remain unclear, underscoring the urgency of addressing violence against women.

According to Alambo, homes and institutions that should offer safety are increasingly becoming places where women face danger.

He warned that unless decisive measures are taken, more women, mothers and daughters will continue to lose their lives.

“What we are saying today is that the freedom we celebrate must also resonate with our ladies being free in their houses and homes,” he said.

Alambo called for swift action whenever individuals report threats to their lives, saying early intervention could help prevent many tragedies.

He also urged the judiciary to expedite cases related to gender-based violence and femicide, arguing that prolonged court processes often deny victims and families justice.

“When cases are recorded, and people report that their lives are in danger, they need to be taken seriously and acted on. Cases pending before court should be expedited very fast,” he said.

The activists concluded their march by calling on all stakeholders, including government agencies, law enforcement officers, the judiciary and communities, to work together in a bid to end femicide and ensure women and girls can enjoy the freedoms promised under Kenya’s Constitution.