A peaceful protest against rising cases of femicide in Kenya turned chaotic on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, as police officers dispersed demonstrators in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) using teargas.
The march, organized to mark the end of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), aimed to raise awareness about femicide and advocate for actionable solutions.
Women, human rights activists, and allies had gathered to demand justice for victims of femicide, which has seen a sharp increase in recent months.
Videos and images circulating online showed clouds of teargas blanketing the city streets, with protesters fleeing the chaotic scenes.
Organizers of the protest, under the ‘EndFemicideKe’ initiative, condemned the police’s actions in a statement urging affected individuals to reach out to their emergency hotline for assistance.
“We strongly condemn this attack on our right to peacefully demonstrate for justice and safety,” read the statement.
Reports indicate that police officers also teargassed sections of Naivas Supermarket, City Market, and Jeevanjee Gardens the planned starting point of the march.
Media personality Adelle Onyango confirmed the disruption, saying:
“Just arrived at Jeevanjee Gardens, and the place is deserted.
Police dispersed everyone. Some officers even claimed we were disturbing the peace because ‘it’s Christmas.’”
The aggressive police response came as a surprise to many participants, given the government’s recent pledge to address femicide and GBV.
On November 20, President William Ruto announced a sh100 million allocation to combat gender-based violence, emphasizing the importance of psychological support and safe spaces for women and children.
“Our communities need education on recognizing signs of abuse and accessing resources for victims,” Ruto said during the announcement.
He also highlighted the formation of a committee led by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki to develop lasting solutions to end femicide.
This commitment followed a report revealing that 97 women had been killed between August and November, underscoring the urgency of addressing femicide.
The contrast between the government’s public stance and the police’s actions has sparked outrage among protesters and activists, who argue that the state must uphold citizens’ rights to peaceful demonstrations if it is serious about ending gender-based violence.
As tensions remain high, activists have called for accountability and sustained efforts to address the systemic causes of femicide in Kenya.
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