Suba North Member of Parliament Millie Odhiambo has reported the alleged murder of a 37-year-old woman in Kabuoch, Homa Bay County, in a suspected case of gender-based violence (GBV).
In a statement issued on May 22, Milli Odhiambo expressed concern over the incident, noting that it has heightened alarm over the rising cases of gender-based violence in the region.
She called for swift action to curb the increasing number of such killings.
“Yet another 37-year-old woman murdered by her ‘terrorist’ or wife inheritor in Kabuoch in Homabay County. Gender-Based Violence is on the increase, and quick action must be undertaken to stop this tide,” she said.
Woman Allegedly Killed by Her Inheritor in Suspected GBV Case
The incident sparked mixed reactions among Kenyans online, with some calling for action against gender-based violence while others urged a broader conversation on the root cause of the incident.
James Omondi noted that women should be treated as partners, mothers, and sisters, stressing the importance of respect, saying, “Men, we do not own women; just to remind us, they are our partners, mothers, sisters, our future.”
Ben Zolah observed that men also experience gender-based violence, often in silence, adding that, “Men also suffer GBV, mostly in silence, Report such too, and rebuke perpetrators in equal measure.”
Don Odhiambo stressed the need for programs focused on understanding the root causes and warning signs of GBV to help prevent future cases.
He commented and said, “As we continue to condemn GBV, we need programs that also focus on understanding its root causes and warning signs so we can prevent and reduce the number of cases. Prevention here is better than waiting for another case to condemn,” he said.
In Luo community, widow inheritance—locally known as tero or tero cholla—remains one of the most debated cultural practices in the country.
Traditionally, members of the Luo Council of Elders argued that it was a mechanism to ensure widows received emotional, sexual, and material support after the death of their husbands.
According to Luo customs, a widow is considered “impure” after her husband’s death, and to cleanse her, a male relative of the deceased, often a brother, would inherit the widow, symbolically or sexually, depending on her age and circumstances.
The ritual involved a visit to the widow’s natal home, the slaughtering of a goat (cholla), and a ceremonial meal shared between the widow and her inheritor.
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Cases of GBV in Kenya
According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) GBV Report 2025, approximately 207 cases of gender-based violence were recorded between 2017 and 2024, excluding electoral-related GBV cases from the 2017 and 2022 election periods.
The report further indicated that women accounted for 57.4% of complainants, while men represented 40.7%, with young people aged 18–34 emerging as the most affected age group.
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Nairobi and Kisumu counties recorded the highest number of complaints, while Marsabit County reported the lowest.
The report also highlighted the absence of adequately structured programmes to address the root causes of GBV and femicide.
Deeply entrenched patriarchal norms regarding the roles and status of women and girls remained a key driver of violence, particularly in the context of evolving gender dynamics and increased empowerment.
Other contributing factors included gender inequality, harmful cultural and social norms, impunity, poverty, low levels of education, and inadequate access to support services.
