On Tuesday, police in Kenya deployed tear gas against hundreds of demonstrators in Nairobi who were protesting against gender-based violence, specifically femicide, resulting in an unspecified number of arrests.
The protesters, who were chanting “Stop femicide,” were initially gathered in a public park but were subsequently dispersed by law enforcement, leading to clashes in the streets. Several individuals sustained injuries during the altercations.
Activist Mwikali Mueni reported to africa24hrs that she suffered a neck injury inflicted by police officers and was on her way to the hospital for treatment.
“It is deeply unfortunate that I was harmed while advocating for the safety of women. If the president is genuinely committed to eradicating femicide, he should begin by addressing the actions of the officers who have assaulted us today,” she stated.
Kenya is grappling with a significant issue of gender-based violence, with police reporting that 97 women have been killed since August, predominantly at the hands of their male partners.
Last month, President William Ruto pledged over $700,000 to support a campaign aimed at ending femicide following discussions with elected female leaders.
A U.N. report released in November, coinciding with the launch of a global 16-day campaign, indicated that Africa experienced the highest rates of partner-related femicide in 2023.
Kenya has witnessed a series of protests against femicide, and on November 25, during the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, police used tear gas to disperse a small group of protesters who defied inclement weather conditions.
Kenya was one of several African nations elected to the U.N. Human Rights Council on October 9.
The police response to protesters on Tuesday, coinciding with Human Rights Day, has drawn criticism from activists.
