Human rights defenders and gender equality advocates have called on the government to intensify efforts to end the rising cases of femicide in the country.
Speaking during a femicide exhibition held in Mombasa, activists decried the alarming number of women being brutally killed, saying urgent policy action and stronger law enforcement are needed to protect women and girls.
The exhibition, dubbed “Maskani”, has so far been held in Nairobi, Kisumu, and Nakuru, before making its way to Mombasa.
The moving showcase features portraits and personal stories of femicide victims, aiming to humanize statistics and spark meaningful public dialogue on gender-based violence.
Organizers said the event was not only a memorial for victims but also a platform to demand accountability and justice for families who continue to suffer in silence.
Multidisciplinary artist Thayu Kilili, who co-curated the Maskani exhibition, said the name was inspired by the fact that most femicide cases occur within homes and family settings.
“We chose the name ‘Maskani’ because it represents the domestic spaces where people should feel safest, yet tragically, many women are losing their lives there,” Kilili explained.
Adding that the exhibition seeks to turn these painful stories into a national conversation that pushes for prevention and justice.
Steve Colins from The Creative Garage expressed concern over the growing normalization of violence against women, citing disturbing conversations from the public.
“One man openly said he would kill his girlfriend if he sent her fare and she didn’t show up that tells you how deeply rooted the problem is,” Colins said.
He criticized the government for doing “very little” despite forming a task force and allocating funds to tackle the crisis.
“We need more than token gestures; the government must strengthen the gender department, invest in public education, and commit more resources if we are serious about ending femicide,” he added.
Njeri Migwe, the Executive Director of Usikimye, described femicide as a national crisis that demands immediate action.
“Between January and March alone, we were losing one to two women every day to femicide but sadly, this number has now grown. We are currently losing between two and three women daily,” Migwe revealed.
She noted that the exhibition uses powerful images to amplify the message.
“A photograph speaks louder than words, and that is why we chose to advocate through this visual platform to make the pain visible and impossible to ignore,” she said.
Migwe further highlighted that cultural and religious practices in some regions, including Mombasa, often hinder justice for victims. “In many cases, once a woman is killed, she is buried the same day, making it difficult to pursue investigations or obtain justice. We must confront these barriers if we truly want to protect women and end this cycle of silence,” she emphasized.
According to gender rights groups, more than 100 women have been killed in gender-related attacks this year alone, with many cases going unresolved. They attributed the rise to a culture of impunity, weak investigations, and societal attitudes that normalize violence against women. Participants at the event urged both the national and county governments to strengthen support systems for survivors, enhance public awareness, and ensure that perpetrators face the full force of the law.
