Femicide is a gendered form of violence that was first defined as a feminist concept by Jill Radford and Diana Russel.[1] The concept, was intended to expose the misogynistic and structural roots of the killing of women – because they are women.[2] However, over time, its meaning and political significance has become increasingly blurred. While debates continue over its precise definition, the more pressing concern is the persistent loss of women's lives within cultural environments shaped by harmful norms, practices, and power dynamics.[3] Understanding femicide requires a multidimensional lens. A lens that considers ecological, cultural, and institutional factors, including the failures of justice systems, inadequate gender-sensitive training, and weak political commitment.[4] In Kenya, the absence of explicit criminalisation heightens the urgency of framing femicide clearly and responding to it decisively, as the issue carries profound implications for social wellbeing, accountability, and the future of gender justice.

The Kabarak Law Review purposed to address this pressing concern through a symposium on criminalising femicide in Kenya. The emotional weight of the subject matter made the task of reviewing and editing the many submitted manuscripts quite challenging and highly enriching. I sincerely appreciate all the authors who took the time to contribute to this symposium; indeed, their efforts are part and parcel of this larger crusade for justice. To that end, I am also deeply grateful to James Mulei for doing a good revise edit of the final text and the editorial team of the Kabarak Law Review – whose hard work and long hours brought this project into being.

The symposium consists of five pieces and a poem all addressing the topic. Megan Tess and Maisy Mueni's, Incorporating gender as the fourth element of a crime, begins this symposium. They argue that Kenya must legally recognise femicide as a distinct crime by adding gender-based motivation as a core element, learning from Mexico's codification and South Africa's advocacy to ensure proper investigation and state accountability.

Joy Bii's, Destitution and femicide: Examining the vulnerability of young women in Kenya's informal settlement, contends that young women in Kenya's informal settlements are uniquely vulnerable to femicide due to extreme poverty and economic dependence. This traps them in violent relationships, necessitating targeted economic empowerment and a national strategic council to address the crisis.

Muthoni Gichimu's, The surge that is femicide: Analysing the social, cultural and historical perspectives of femicide in Kenya, analyses the issue through historical and cultural lenses. She traces its roots to colonial-era patriarchy and highlights how practices like bride price and irresponsible media coverage perpetuate the violence. Lastly, she argues that lasting solutions require dismantling these deep-seated social norms.

Additionally, Kariuki Joe Njuguna's, Legal recognition and criminalisation of femicide (feminicide) in Kenya, establishes the core legal problem, contending that the failure to codify femicide as a distinct crime in Kenya perpetuates impunity and statistical silence. This legal gap is precisely what enables the systemic failure explored by Chepkoech Charity's, Femicide as structural violence: Examining Kenya's patriarchal and institutional failures, where she argues that femicide is a crisis rooted in patriarchal culture and institutional indifference, necessitating a specific Femicide Act and profound cultural reform.

The conversation must continue, with the ultimate goal of securing the codification of a law that criminalises femicide. The stories of victims should be told and retold, and justice must be relentlessly pursued on their behalf. It is our hope that this symposium serves as a meaningful call to action and a moment of reflection on the current dispensation, inspiring impactful change. We invite you all to the readership of this symposium. 

George Njogu,

Editor in Charge of the Kabarak Law Review Blog