The high prevalence of gender-based violence and rising femicide cases in Kenya since 2016 have sparked widespread concern and condemnation, including from President William Ruto and other senior government authorities. Despite this acknowledgment, the number of incidents continues to grow. In 2024 alone, at least 97 women have been brutally killed by their intimate partners, adding to the 522 femicides documented by Africa Data Hub between 2016 and 2023. Families remain devastated, with justice elusive for many victims and survivors.
Anti-femicide campaigners and families of gender-based violence (GBV) victims have criticized sensational and insensitive media coverage, which they argue perpetuates harmful narratives, invades victims’ privacy, and undermines the gravity of these crimes.
To address this, Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) has collaborated with Kenyan anti-femicide movements to amplify demands for justice and accountability through ethical media practices. Earlier this year, JHR partnered with feminist organizations to create a public service announcement aired on national television and widely shared online, raising awareness about femicide and the need for systemic change.
In the lead-up to the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence in 2024, JHR hosted a media roundtable on the role of media in the ethical reporting of femicide. The event brought together journalists, civil society representatives, GBV survivors, and relatives of femicide victims to discuss the media’s role in shaping public discourse and holding authorities accountable.
During the discussion, Hon. Lucy Njeri, a legislator in the County Assembly of Nyandarua, recounted the traumatic experience of learning about her daughter’s murder through media reports, without prior notification. She called for amendments to Kenya’s Sexual Offences Act to specifically address femicide. “Let’s come together to tackle these emerging trends and enact legislation tailored to combat femicide,” she said.
Similar frustrations were voiced by Rose, the mother of Purity Wangechi, who lamented the lack of communication before her daughter’s story was reported. While acknowledging the media’s coverage of her daughter’s case, Rose emphasized the need for sustained reporting on judicial proceedings. “If journalists follow up on court cases, people will see progress and accountability,” she said.
Winfred Syombua, JHR-Kenya’s project manager, highlighted the detrimental impact of sensational language in media coverage. “Describing brutal acts as stemming from ‘trouble in paradise’ or focusing on socialite victims trivializes femicide as a crime and perpetuates patriarchal norms,” she explained. Such reporting fails to address the systemic misogyny fueling gender-based violence.
Irungu Houghton, Executive Director of Amnesty International Kenya, called for survivor-centered reporting. “Media must give survivors a platform to share their truths, which can drive preemptive action to protect others,” he urged.
The forum provided an opportunity for journalists to hear firsthand accounts from survivors and victims’ families, who criticized the media’s failure to hold authorities accountable for inadequate investigations, corruption, and interference in justice processes. Participants stressed the importance of comprehensive reporting that follows cases from incident to resolution, exposing systemic failures while promoting the rule of law.
The roundtable also included a session by the Center for Reproductive Rights, which explored how the denial of access to reproductive healthcare, including safe abortion, constitutes state-perpetrated femicide. The discussion focused on uncovering the systemic failures of the government in protecting women’s rights. As a result, JHR was tasked with convening stakeholders to explore the possibility of initiating public interest litigation against the state for its failure to protect women and uphold their rights.
Civil society representatives emphasized the need for collaboration with the media to challenge societal attitudes and systemic failures that perpetuate violence against women.
The meeting reaffirmed JHR’s commitment to mobilizing the media toward ethical and sensitive reporting on human rights issues, reinforcing the critical role of journalism in advocating for justice and societal change.
