Kenya Establishes Special Team to Investigate Femicide Cases

By Samuel Ouma [caption id="attachment_111266" align="alignnone" width="624"] A section of women demonstrating against killing of women and girls in Kenya[/caption] Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have come up with a specialized team of investigators to accelerate inquiries into sexual violence and murder aimed at women. While briefing the team before it embarks on its mandate, DCI Director Mohamed Amin promised to avail all capabilities and resources at his disposal for the team to deliver on its mandate. “These killings have cast a dark shadow over our safety and security endeavours; we must put this menace to end with remarkable speed and finality,” said Amin. Amin revealed that a total of 94 cases of killings of women and girls were reported between 2021 and 2024. He said that a total of 65 suspects were arraigned in various courts across the country in connection with the murders. Amin ordered the team to complete the pending investigations and ensure all those culpable were brought to book. Public members have been urged to volunteer any information that could aid in investigations or assist in apprehending perpetrators of these heinous acts through the toll-free DCI hotline 0800722203. “There is a nexus between femicide and sexual violence. We know the perpetrators of these heinous crimes, let us expose them. Let us all join hands to defeat this evil," added Amin. The team comprises criminal intelligence analysts and forensic experts. It will partner with other stakeholders to develop swift and comprehensive preventive strategies to address this atrocious violation of human rights in Kenya.