Rise in femicide cases a national emergency, says Raila

Azimio leader Raila Odinga. [File, Standard]

Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga has condemned the recent surge in femicide cases in Kenya, saying it is now a 'national emergency.'

Odinga on Wednesday, January 17, expressed concern over the increase in reported cases of the murder of women and girls, saying it should not be taken as normal.

"It is sad to see a troubling increase in the deaths of young women, leaving a trail of grief for families and friends. The abnormality of these murders cannot become the new normal. Murder is and will always be wrong, and there is no excuse," Odinga said.

The ODM chief has called for a stop of the killings, adding that it will likely lead to more insecurity incidents.

His statement comes in the back of a series of several reported cases of women killed under mysterious circumstances.

The Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) also condemned the act on Tuesday calling on the State to protect women and girls.

Citing the recent gruesome murder of Starlet Wahu, FIDA Vice Chairperson Christine Kungu said that her death was as a result of violence against women in form of intimate partner violence.

"Barely a week later, FIDA- Kenya has learnt with shock of the murder of a woman whose body was found at an apartment located in Roysambu under circumstances suspected to have been intimate partner violence."

In the span of one month, several femicide cases have been reported across the country. Two other female university students also died; a student in Machakos was found stabbed to death in her boyfriend's house and a Maasai Mara student body found in the bush.