Nairobi Women Representative aspirant Millicent Omanga has expressed concern over rising insecurity affecting women and children across the country, calling on leaders to take urgent action to address the situation.

In a post on her official X account on Sunday, May 24, 2026, Omanga said families were living in fear as cases of violence and disappearances increased.

“Children are disappearing. Women are being killed. Families are living in fear – yet many leaders remain silent or busy defending the government for their own interests,” she wrote.

She questioned the role of elected leaders in responding to the crisis, asking where Members of Parliament and women leaders were at a time when the country is facing growing concern over gender-based violence.

“Where are the MPs? Where are the women leaders? Parliament should be at a standstill until real action is taken,” she said.

Omanga said the government has a duty to protect its citizens and warned that failure to do so amounts to governance failure.

“A government that cannot protect children and women is failing its people. Enough is enough,” she added.

GBV crisis deepens nationwide

Her remarks come amid rising public concern over gender-based violence and femicide cases reported in different parts of the country. Women’s rights organisations have warned that violence against women and girls has reached crisis levels, with some groups calling for urgent national intervention.

Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti also weighed in on the issue earlier in the week, citing official data showing 129 cases of violence against women recorded.

“Increasing cases of violence against women, with 129 incidents recorded between January and March, have raised serious concern,” Wavinya said. “I urge the government to take decisive action to prevent further cases, ensure strict enforcement of the law, and strengthen systems that protect women and support their safety.”

Her statement echoed growing alarm among leaders and rights organisations that have linked the rising cases to weak enforcement of existing laws and gaps in protection systems.

According to a recent joint statement by women’s rights groups and legal organisations, many victims of violence had previously reported abuse but failed to receive adequate protection. The groups said femicide and gender-based violence have become a national crisis requiring urgent government action.

The organisations noted that most perpetrators are often known to victims, with many incidents taking place in homes or within close relationships, raising questions about early intervention mechanisms.

Reports from rights groups have also pointed to delays in investigations, limited access to protection orders, and reliance on informal dispute resolution methods as factors contributing to the worsening situation.