Women Rights Organization Demand Withdrawal Of Gender CS Nominee Hannah Cheptumo Due To Femicide Comments

We, the undersigned organizations and activists working to defend women's rights in Kenya, express our profound outrage and unequivocal opposition to Hannah Cheptumo's potential appointment as the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Gender, Culture, The Arts and Heritage.

During the vetting process for this crucial role, Ms Cheptumo made alarming and unacceptable statements regarding the rising cases of femicide in our country. When questioned about this crisis and her intended approach, she stated that women victims of femicide died because they got involved with men while seeking financial support.

This statement is a gross mischaracterization of the problem and demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of the systemic nature of gender-based violence in Kenya. It amounts to victim-blaming, suggesting that women are responsible for their violent deaths. This is not only factually incorrect but also deeply offensive and harmful.

Femicide remains a deeply troubling issue in Kenya, with 725 women recorded as having been killed in 2024 alone. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, many of these cases involved perpetrators who were known to the victims—intimate partners, relatives, or close friends. The statistics are stark, and the real tragedy lies in the countless families and communities left shattered by this unmitigated violence.

Femicide—the intentional killing of women simply because they are women—is rooted in deeply entrenched patriarchal beliefs, gender inequality, and systemic failures to protect women. These failures often begin with harmful cultural norms that normalize and excuse violence, perpetuating a cycle of silence and impunity. Attitudes like those expressed by Ms Cheptumo only reinforce this dangerous status quo.

No woman deserves to be killed, period.

We are also deeply concerned that the nominee struggled to acknowledge the roles and responsibilities of men in the ongoing femicide and gender-based violence crisis in Kenya. Despite several committee members, including the Chairperson, prompted her to address preventive measures, but she focused instead on what women should do to 'avoid' being harmed or killed. Tellingly, she said nothing about the perpetrators of such violence nor about the accountability of the state in addressing their crimes.

The nominee's proposed solutions—focused solely on advising women how to "avoid" becoming victims—are inadequate and reveal a profoundly troubling misunderstanding of the crisis at hand. Ending femicide is not about changing women's behaviour; it's about holding perpetrators accountable, demanding action from the state, and challenging a society that continues to normalise violence against women. Real solutions must confront the root causes—not shift blame onto those already at risk.

It is also a concern that the Cabinet still does not meet the two-thirds threshold, and although the nominee is a woman, we note that such a nominee must be knowledgeable on the issues of the Ministry they will run.

We urgently set forth the following demands:

1. The immediate withdrawal of Hannah Cheptumo's nomination for the role of Gender Cabinet Secretary for the reasons stated above. Her statements demonstrate a lack of understanding regarding gender-based violence and a failure to protect women's rights.
2. Prompt government action on femicide, which includes:
   1. Prompt and comprehensive investigations and prosecutions of femicide cases, in line with the proposals from the National Gender-Based Violence Working Group.
   2. Comprehensive prevention strategies that address the root causes of violence, including public awareness campaigns and the strengthening of the police and judiciary's capacities.
   3. Sufficient resources and support services for survivors of gender-based violence.
3. Urgent prioritization of laws and policies that protect women and hold perpetrators accountable, such as the Sexual Offences Act, the Protection Against Domestic Violence Act, and the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act. We also call for the withdrawal of harmful policies, like the National Policy on Family Protection and Promotion, that perpetuate victim-blaming.
4. A collective call to action for all Kenyans to demand an end to femicide and gender-based violence, starting with the rejection of Ms. Cheptumo's nomination. This is a societal issue that requires a united response.
5. We call for the President to follow the two-thirds gender rule in cabinet appointments and appoint qualified and knowledgeable women for the roles.

We boldly and unreservedly endorse the response of Likoni MP Mishi Mboko, who interrupted the session on the point of order and boldly asserted: "We have seen so many other women who have been murdered and not in those circumstances. It is very wrong to suggest that those women who have been found butchered, their bodies dismembered and put in sacks, were doing that for money."

We will continue to monitor this situation closely and take all necessary action to protect women's rights in Kenya.

This statement has been signed off by members of the Coalition Against Sexual Violence. They include Wangu Kanja Foundation, Oxfam, Utu Wetu, Advocates for Social Change Kenya, the African Gender and Media Initiative, Independent Medico-Legal Unit, Centre for Rights Education and Awareness, the Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network, Gender Violence Recovery Centre, Trust for Indigenous Culture and Health, Association for Grassroots Journalists in Kenya, Flone Initiative, Huru Defenders, Maisha Safe Girls Safe House, and Physicians for Human Rights.