Call It Femicide — It’s a Crime On Its Own 💔

Dear Gentle Reader,

We have been apart for far too long — life has been lifing, hasn’t it? But today, the author feels compelled, no—obligated—to return for a matter far too urgent to ignore.

!!!Femicide!!! 

Yes, that word. We’ve heard it over and over again, especially in the past two years. Each time it comes up, it’s accompanied by another name, another face, another heart-wrenching story. And let’s be honest—it’s exhausting, it's horrifying, and it's infuriating.

You’ve probably seen the headlines: “Young woman found murdered in lover’s apartment,” “Woman’s body dumped by the roadside,” “Another femicide case under investigation.” And yet, the reaction often fades just as quickly as the news cycle.

But we need to pause. We need to talk.

The women killed are not just statistics. They are daughters. Mothers. Nieces. Friends. Aunties. Colleagues. They had dreams, jokes, bad hair days, favorite songs, and people who loved them.

And now—they’re gone. Just like that.

You’ve probably come across the online petition by Usikimye and Joanna K Cosmetics that’s been making rounds, calling for femicide to be declared a crime in Kenya. I know you’ve seen it. Maybe you even signed it. But maybe you’re also wondering, “Why do we need a whole new law for this? Isn’t murder already a crime?”

Well, sit back. Grab a pen. Get a notebook. Because class is officially in session.

Understanding the Basics 

Let’s start here: Femicide is under the broader umbrella of homicide. Homicide simply means the killing of one person by another. It doesn’t tell us why. It doesn’t dig into the motive. It’s just a general.

But beneath homicide, there are categories—like manslaughter, murder, infanticide, parricide, genocide, femicide, androcide  —that depend on the intent of the killer and the identity of the victim.

Femicide is the intentional killing of a woman because she is a woman. It is a gendered crime, often rooted in patriarchy, cultural norms, domestic abuse, and the deeply held belief that women are lesser, disposable, or must be controlled.

Before the "men also get killed" crowd comes for me, let’s talk about Androcide — the targeted killing of men, often in war zones, gang violence, or tribal conflicts. Both femicide and androcide reflect a grim reality: in a broken society, even your identity can become a death sentence.

Femicide is not random. It is the silent massacre of women, masked as normal news, tolerated far too long. It is often the final, irreversible act in a long chain of gender-based violence. A chain that begins with catcalls and unsolicited photos, tightens with abusive partners, controlling boyfriends, marital rape, stalking, threats, and ultimately, death.

It’s also about power. Control. Entitlement. It’s when women are punished for saying "NO" for walking away, for living freely.

From a moral standpoint, what leads to femicide isn't just the final violent act. It starts with the normalization of disrespect. It is the society that laughs at rape jokes. The schools that ignore harassment. The homes that silence girls. The boys raised to believe women are beneath them. The 'boys will be boys' culture. It is the casual way we excuse "bad behavior" in men and burden women with responsibility for their own safety. We are complicit. We are grooming a culture where women are hunted for sport.

Why are we so uncomfortable with calling it what it is? Why does naming femicide a crime feel like a threat to some?

Is it because naming it forces us to confront the truth of our failed systems, our silent complicity, and the moral decay we’ve allowed to grow?

In Kenya, under the current Penal Code (Cap. 63), murder is punishable by death. But there is no specific mention of femicide. This means we lack the language, data, and legal precision to truly identify and address this national crisis.

So why make femicide a standalone crime?

• Recognition: Naming femicide recognizes that women are being killed because they are women.

• Data Collection: With clear definitions, we can track cases and trends accurately.

• Tailored Justice: Courts can weigh gender-based violence more seriously in sentencing.

• Prevention: Laws create awareness. They set boundaries. They tell society: This is not normal.

• Victims’ Dignity: These women deserve more than being called "just another case."

And let’s not forget, laws shape culture. The moment we name femicide, we force society to confront the rot that allows it to thrive.

But change isn’t easy, especially when leaders themselves downplay the crisis. Just recently, a newly nominated Cabinet Secretary for Gender suggested that women are killed because they were "chasing money" from men.

Let that sink in.

A woman in power—a person tasked with protecting women—reduces femicide to a transactional issue. If the people who lead us can't understand the depth and gravity of this crisis, what hope is there for the everyday mwananchi?This is bigger than ignorance. It's dangerous. It gives permission to victim-blame. To say, “She must have provoked it.” “She wanted money.” “She was out too late.”

No. No. And no. 

The whole femicide issue is rooted in the deep, rotten moral fabric propagated by patriarchy. But are we ready to confront that truth?

We need to speak up. We need to stand and talk about it. Because femicide is happening. Women have died. They are not just names on a list. They are not just statistics to be studied. They were our sisters. Our friends. Our people.

By signing this petition, we help them get justice. We carry their names with us like armor as we walk.

We can’t keep walking in fear each day. We. Are. Tired.

 We are tired of sharing  location pins.
Of pretending to be on phone calls while walking home.
Of smiling at creeps so they don’t hurt us.
Of giving out our numbers so we don’t get followed.
Of missing morning runs because “it’s not safe.”
Of asking where to buy pepper spray like it’s a school supply.

Let this be the moment we stop normalizing violence against women.

Let this be the moment we make it law.

👉 Sign the petition here

"If the law won’t call it what it is, we will—again and again, until justice has no choice but to answer."