Nakuru's march against femicide revives memories of slain victims
A protester holds up a placard during the anti-femicide march in Nakuru on December 10, 2024.
“Stop killing us!”
This was the message that echoed through the streets of Nakuru as women, both young and old, made their way through the streets of Nakuru demanding an end to femicide.
The Nakuru Railways Station was where it all began, in the mid-morning hours, with a large crowd of people congregated donning white t-shirts written, #saytheirnames, #endfemicideKE and #TotalShutdownKE Again!
Ann Mwithaga (right) joins human rights activists at the anti-femicide march in Nakuru on December 10, 2024.
As the crowd grew, Ann Mwithaga, a Human Rights Activist based in Nakuru expresses her disappointment with the high number of gender-based violence (GBV) cases reported in the county.
“We want justice to be expedited and the culprits jailed. Justice delayed is justice denied. When these cases drag on in court, the families of the victims and the survivors never have peace of mind.”
Ms Mwithaga continues, “So, we are calling on the judiciary to kindly check on this. The women leaders in the county should also come up with policies and laws that will help curb the high number of GBV cases in the county.”.
Stanley Munge, a Nakuru human rights activist also joins Ann in condemning the high number of femicide cases that have been reported in the county.
Human rights activist Stanley Munge joins protesters during the anti-femicide march in Nakuru on December 10, 2024.
“Vivian Kajaya and Eileen Cherotich who were brutally murdered in Nakuru are just some of the names that are in a long list of women who lost their lives this year through femicide. It is sad that we started this year protesting against Femicide, and we end it the same way,” he says.
Vivian was a Mount Kenya University student who was found dead and body dumped in a maize plantation within Kiamunyi estate, Nakuru County on October 14.
As for Eileen Cherotich, her body was found near the Eveready roundabout on July 14. She was a student at Rift Valley National Polytechnic.
With those powerful words, the protestors began their match from the Nakuru Railways Station, to Pinkam roundabout with an enthusiastic band leading the way dropping hits like Kasongo, Uninyunyuzie Maji and Viviano.
As the group approached Kenyatta Avenue, the air was filled with songs and chants as boda boda riders joined in, hooting and roaring their engines.
Business was brought to a standstill as the protesters navigated the busy city centre under police protection, with bystanders taking the time to take a photo or two of the peaceful protestors.
When they arrived at the KFA roundabout police had to stop traffic as the protestors occupied the entire round about some lying on the floor wailing and chanting bado mapambano.
Female police officers escorting protestors in Nakuru city on December 10, 2024.
Soon enough, the protestors were past Ole Ken Hotel. As they made their way through to Nakuru Athletics Club, traffic was brought to a halt since they occupied the entire road on their way to Central Police Station.
Peacefully they made their way past the station towards the office of the Nakuru County Women Representative Liza Chelule. This was to be the end of the long walk.
Throughout the walk, it was clear that the unified voices demanded an end to femicide in Kenya.