Women’s rights defenders have asked President William Ruto not to appoint Gender Cabinet Secretary nominee Hannah Wendot Cheptumo. 

Representing 15 organisations under the Coalition against Sexual Violence, the activists said Cheptumo’s remarks on femicide during vetting were “worrying”. 

MPs yesterday endorsed Cheptumo’s nomination, paving the way for her formal appointment by Ruto and swearing-in. 

In a statement, the coalition added that Cheptumo’s statements demonstrated she was “unfit to hold a position that requires a deep understanding of gender-based violence and a commitment to protecting women’s rights.” 

During the vetting by the National Assembly Committee on Appointments on Monday, Cheptumo said victims of femicide were mainly uneducated women.  

Huge condemnation 

She added that the educated ones are killed while looking for money, stating: “They are educated, but those are looking for money. You know a girl has many needs.” 

The comments sparked huge condemnation on social media. 

“Ms Cheptumo’s words were a gross mischaracterisation of the problem and demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of the systemic nature of gender-based violence. It amounts to victim-blaming, suggesting that women are responsible for their own violent deaths. This is not only incorrect but also deeply offensive and harmful,” Trust for Indigenous Culture and Health Executive Director Jedidah Maina, said. 

In 2024 alone, Kenya recorded 725 femicide cases, translating to 2.66 deaths per 100,000 women, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. This equates to approximately 47 women losing their lives each week. Around 75 per cent of these murders are perpetrated by individuals known to the victims, including intimate partners, relatives and friends. 

Wangu Wanja, founder of Wangu Kanja Foundation (WKF) which works to prevent sexual violence, said: “Femicide is the intentional killing of women because they are women. It is rooted in deeply entrenched patriarchal attitudes, gender inequality and systemic failures to protect women. These failures include and begin with harmful cultural norms that normalise and excuse violence against women, such as the attitude reinforced by Cheptumo. No woman deserves to be killed. Period.” 

Hard pressed 

Cheptumo appeared hard-pressed to articulate the roles and failures of men in the femicide and GVB crisis. Even after several committee members, including National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, attempted to direct her attention to preventive measures, she only spoke about what women can do to “avoid” being harmed or killed and said nothing about the criminal perpetrators of such violence and what they or the state can do to prevent femicide. 

Wangechi Wachira, the Executive Director of the Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW), said: “We urge the National Assembly to prioritise laws and policies that protect women and hold perpetrators accountable.” 

“Dear Kenyans, women’s lives are on the line. Please join us in demanding an end to femicide and all forms of GVB, beginning with a strong and clear rejection of Cheptumo’s nomination. This is a societal problem that requires a collective response,” she said. 

Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo termed Cheptumo’s remarks  “irresponsible and unfortunate.”  

“It’s the most irresponsible statement I’ve heard—shockingly from a woman. Some students were killed simply for rejecting advances from fellow classmates,” Odhiambo added. 

“We have situations where husbands have killed their wives and cut them into pieces. What money was she looking for?” 

The CS nomination and vetting comes in the midst of an ongoing petition to declare femicide a crime in Kenya.  

The petition by Usikimye Kenya calls on the government to legally define femicide as a distinct crime to ensure proper tracking and accountability.