Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has addressed the alarming rise in cases of femicide during a rally in Mombasa, Kenya. Expressing deep concern for the safety of women in the country, Raila strongly condemned the acts of gender-based violence (GBV) and urged decisive action to be taken. He emphasized the need for women to feel secure in their homes, stressing that marriage does not make a woman the property of her husband. Instead, he emphasized that a wife is a partner and has the right to live with dignity.
Raila called for severe legal consequences for those who engage in violence against women, advocating for lengthy jail sentences for perpetrators of such acts. He declared the femicide crisis a national emergency and highlighted the threat it poses to homeland security. Raila underscored the importance of creating a society that ensures freedom and security for women, asserting that immediate measures must be taken to put an end to these tragic incidents.