A new nationwide initiative to combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and femicide in Kenya has been launched, with female lawmakers taking the lead. The campaign, dubbed Komesha Dhuluma, aims to address the growing crisis of violence against women and the rising cases of femicide across the country.
The Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) in a statement on January 16, 2024, said that the initiative which received strong backing from President William Ruto, who allocated Ksh100 million to support the campaign, will be implemented in coordination with the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action.
“This campaign is a presidential initiative in response to the alarming rise in cases of femicide, with numerous tragic incidents involving intimate partners and university students,” read part of the statement.
“The President has committed 100 million shillings to fund this initiative, reinforcing the call for immediate reforms to safeguard the lives and dignity of women and girls, men and boys across the country.”
102 Members of Parliament, including 47 Woman Representatives, 28 constituency MPs, 6 nominated National Assembly Members, 3 elected Senators, and 18 nominated Senators, will lead community outreach and sensitization programmes in their respective constituencies.
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These programmes will target men and women and focus on addressing the root causes of GBV and femicide.
Komesha Dhuluma campaign
Each MP will localize the initiative through community sensitization, engagement forums and barazas tailored to the unique needs of their constituencies, mentorship and intergenerational dialogues with communities, use of artivism to relay key messages on GBV and femicide amongst other activities.
According to KEWOPA, these efforts aim to directly engage over 100,000 women and men, youth and Persons with Disabilities at the constituency level and reach over 10 million Kenyans through a robust media campaign.
“This campaign is not only about raising awareness but also about creating tangible change by working with key strategic stakeholders, including women’s rights organizations (WROs), the Judiciary, and law enforcement agencies, to ensure that survivors of GBV receive the support and justice they deserve,” the statement adds.
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Femicide cases
The launch of Komesha Dhuluma by the female lawmakers comes after the country recorded a troubling surge in femicide, with over 97 cases reported in the last 3 months.
The 2024 Kenya Demographic Health Survey reveals that 40% of women have experienced physical or sexual violence from their partners at least once in their lifetime.
Furthermore, a 2024 report by the Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW) highlighted that in 2022, over 3,762 cases of gender-based violence were reported, with 2,985 of the victims being women.
The campaign will run for two and a half months and culminate on International Women’s Day in March 2025, with a major event to be held at the Parliament Buildings.
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