The Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) has condemned the escalating cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and femicide, urging the government to treat the issue as a full-blown national emergency rather than isolated domestic incidents.

In the statement released on Thursday, May 21, 2026, AMWIK described the situation as one where Kenyan women, mothers, sisters, daughters, and colleagues are being “murdered, assaulted, abused and silenced in spaces that should offer safety.”

“The Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) has expressed its deepest condemnation regarding the alarming surge of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and femicide across the country,” AMWIK stated.

In the report, AMWIK said that the recent surge of abuse is not an isolated incident of domestic disputes, but a full-blown national security and public health crisis where women are systematically targeted simply for being women.

According to AMWIK, data indicate an unacceptable number of women and girls murdered in recent years, with the grim momentum carrying directly into 2026.

In addition, on average, the media reports numerous femicide cases every single week across various counties, painting a terrifying picture of the reality Kenyan women face daily.

“We refuse to let the names of our sisters be reduced to passing social media trends or cold statistics. We remember and demand justice for victims like Davine Kwamboka in Migori County, a mother of two whose brutal murder was captured on CCTV as her husband and accomplices attempted to dispose of her body,” AMWIK stated.

Demands to the government

At the same time, the media association reminded the government of its constitutional obligations under Articles 26 (right to life), 28 (dignity), and 29 (freedom and security from violence).

“AMWIK strongly reminds the Government of Kenya of its primary constitutional obligation. According to Article 26, every person has the right to life. The State shall not deprive a person of life intentionally, except in exceptional circumstances. Every Kenyan woman killed by GBV is a state failure,” AMWIK stated.

The association has demanded immediate action by the Government, including declaring GBV and femicide a national crisis, fast-tracking legislation to define femicide as a distinct criminal offence with stricter penalties.

At the same time, establishing a digitised national database to track offenders and improve police response and allocating funding for safe shelters, forensic capabilities, and free psychosocial and legal support for survivors.

“We demand that the government immediately declare Gender-Based Violence and femicide a national crisis. Furthermore, Parliament must fast-track legislation to define femicide as a distinct criminal offence separate from general homicide, ensuring stricter bail terms and harsher sentences,” AMWIK said.