President William Ruto has broken his silence on the increasing cases of femicide in the country, asserting the government’s commitment in addressing the alarming trend.
Ruto noted that the crisis is a result of a combination of various factors, including moral decay and criminal activity.
He decried the spate of violence that has claimed the lives of many Kenyan women, murdered by people who should love, respect and protect them.
Equipping police to combat the troubling trend of femicide
While addressing the congregation at the African Divine Church in Nairobi, Ruto assured Kenyans that his government will avail the required resources to the police to combat femicide in the country.
"I want to assure you that we will go out of our way to equip our police to deal with this challenge," President Ruto stated.
The Head of State noted that collective effort is needed to combat femicide, with parents and communities having a part to play.
Parents & communities to address "the moral issue" contributing to femicide
He urged parents and communities to address what he referred to as "the moral issue" contributing to the crisis.
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He noted that this is not the time to shift blame and called for a comprehensive approach to address the violence witnessed.
"As parents, starting with myself, as Kenyans, we must also deal with the moral issue, let us not just finger point as to who should do what, we should start by saying, what shall I do as a Citizen," Ruto added.
Alarming increase in femicide in Kenya
A number of Kenyan women have lost their lives in the recent past, with human rights organisations and activists urging the government to declare femicide a national disaster.
The deaths remain unresolved, adding to the many lives lost earlier in the year in a similar trend that saw Kenyans take to the streets to shine the spotlight on the crisis.
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According to the National Police Service, at least 97 women have been killed over the past three months.
Leaders who spoke at the event called for decisive action to tame the trend.