Nominated Member of Parliament Sabina Chege has called for pragmatic efforts towards addressing the rising number of femicide cases.
Speaking in an interview with Star Digital, the MP said ending femicide cases would call for more dedication beyond the recent street protests staged in Nairobi.
She went on to suggest initiatives such as mentorship with girls in various learning institutions as some of the ideal solutions to save girls and women from the brutal killings.
According to her, the street protests brought together individuals who were probably aware of the dangers but left out some who needed help.
“If this was organized in universities and colleges where they have hostels like the University of Nairobi, it would have had more impact rather than just going to the streets,” she said.
“Once you go to the streets you do it for the media and everything else, but you don’t really communicate much. The best way is to interact with those girls let us start mentorship programs where they can be able to talk to. If you give a chance where they can have even forums,” she added.
Sabina Chege Advice on Financial Independence
Sabina also stressed the need to offer counselling to young women to help them avoid the pressure of quick money.
She said that girls should be cultured to understand the importance of working hard to earn their own money, restating a controversial statement “there is no free money” in this world.
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She urged fellow leaders to work towards making themselves available to the younger generation and called for establishment of discussion forums where affected people can open up.
“We need to start having talks, forums where people can be able to speak,” she said.
“Girls need to know how to work hard and not just looking at money because there is no free money.”
Women Leaders Accused of Taking Back Seat
Her remarks came days after various groups took to the streets calling for action to protect women and girls from femicide attacks.
In the highly publicized protests, the absence of women leaders was conspicuous.
Nairobi Women Representative Esther Passaris was among the leaders who showed up to join the protestors in agitating for action and justice for women.
Also Read: Esther Passaris Speaks After Being Booed During the Anti-Femicide March
But she experienced a tough time with some of the protestors who turned her away, forcing her bodyguards to rush her from the scene.
Later in statements on her social media account, Passaris engaged social media users who called her out for showing up in the dying moments and going mute on the violence meted on women.
In her defense, Passaris said she had played part in organizing the protests and even contributed financial resources from the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) kitty.
Several shocking cases of brutal murders have been reported since the start of 2024, with a case of university student Rita Waeni and socialite Starlet Wahu being among the most notable ones.