THE SILENT CRISIS :A Decade Of Loss And Unanswered Questions

Every day ,across Kenya, the headline screams yet another woman lost to violence. But how many of us truly stop to ask : why is this happening? How has it become so brutal, so ruthless?

Between 2014-2024, femicide has evolved from tragic cases 0f domestic violence to horrifying murders that shock even the most hardened hearts. In 2024,femicide has taken a chilling turn, its no longer just about women being murdered by an abusive partner at their home, we've witnessed young girls murdered in BNBs, hotels where they thought they'd be safe only to meet a violent death. Then a new wave of women mutilated bodies stuffed in plastic bags left to be discovered in unthinkable places like cemetery, farms or dumpsite. And yet the justice system, despite its promises, continue to fail the victims. why?

The Unsettling Rise of Horrifying Murders

Take for example, the horrific case of a 19 year old Sharon Otieno , whose mutilated body was discovered in a banana plantation in early Friday morning, November 8, 2024.

Sharon just left her resident in thindigwa, karuri at 10 pm on Thursday for a stroll only for her lifeless body to be discovered the next morning at kiambaa, limuru

This is not the first time Kiambaa has been shaken by such a tragic event. The community still remembers the horrifying case of Rita Waeni, whose severed head was discovered at Kiambaa Dam, wrapped in a purple blouse and placed inside a paper bag weighted with a stone to ensure it sank.

Similarly, the brutal murder of 20-year-old Christine Gesare, who was stabbed nine times by her lover in Nyeri, shows the growing menace of femicide. These aren’t crimes of passion—they are cold, calculated acts of violence. The heartlessness with which these women were murdered reflects the heartless disregard for the value of women's lives that has taken root in Kenya.

What Has Changed? Is It Cult Or Just a Breakdown of Justice

So, what is happening here? Is this a rise in cult activity, with women being sacrificed for some twisted ritual? Or is it something far more sinister- the result of society so accustomed to the murder of women that killers no longer fear getting caught?

While some may point to cult- like behavior, the truth is perhaps even more disturbing: Kenya has developed an alarming indifference towards the violence faced by women. These killers, who once might have feared being caught, now operate with confidence that the wheel of justice turn slowly, if at all.

Femicides have become so routine that many Kenyans have started to expect a little more than just “thoughts and prayers” whenever the latest gruesome discovery is made. Victims are forgotten quickly, their names replaced by the next headline. But is that enough?

The fact remains that between 2014 - 2024, despite some legal reforms meant to protect women — such as the Protection Against Domestic Violence Act (2015) — the system remains painfully inadequate. From delayed investigations to the near-impunity of many perpetrators, justice often seems like a far-off dream. Even more troubling is the increase in cases where perpetrators seem to get away without facing consequences. Can a society that repeatedly fails to punish violence against women expect to stop these crimes from escalating?

A Nation Numb to Violence

It’s not just about individual murders anymore. This is a societal crisis. With each case, the belief that violence against women can be committed without consequence grows. What’s even more troubling is that many of these killings occur with no apparent connection to any rational motive. These are not crimes of passion or jealousy anymore. Some seem almost random, carried out by people who have grown used to seeing the murder of women as something normal — something that will simply fade from the headlines after a few days.

Where Do We Go From Here?

This is where the questions become urgent. What does it say about a society when women are brutally murdered, yet nothing changes? What does it say about the value we place on human life when the bodies of women are dumped like trash with no one to speak for them?

Are these women merely statistics — just another list of names on a government report or social media post that will soon be forgotten? Or do we, as a society, finally wake up and demand that those responsible for their deaths are held accountable? More importantly, can we stop these murders from happening in the first place?

The answer lies not only in the justice system but in how we, as a society, view violence against women. It’s time to stop treating these murders as “just another story.” We must ask hard questions about why these women are dying and what we can do to make sure that no more women are found chopped in bags, left in hotel rooms, or discarded like garbage.

We cannot afford to remain numb any longer.We have to stop asking why this is happening and start asking how we can stop it.

Because, in the end, the question remains: How many more women must die before we act?

MilaPulse,

Feisal.