Police establish special unit to fight femicide
Spokesperson highlights some of the cases reported in the country with the status of a majority showing progress
The National Police Service (NPS) has announced the formation of a special anti-femicide unit following the rising cases of killings targeting women and girls in the country.
The unit, which is domiciled within the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), comprises of criminal intelligence analysts, forensic experts, and other professionals.
In a statement to the press, NPS Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said the unit will help the police in their fight against Sexual Gender Based-Violence (SGBV), including femicide.
He affirmed that the police will also continue embracing a multi-pronged approach, including collaborating with the relevant stakeholders to help combat the menace.
“A unit domiciled within the DCI has been established and comprises criminal intelligence analysts, forensic experts, and other professionals. The unit successfully investigated the reported cases, and a majority of the cases are now pending before the courts, while others are at various stages of investigation,” Muchiri stated.
The spokesperson highlighted some of the femicide cases that were reported in the country with a status of a majority showing progress.
He said that the status of the cases shows the unwavering commitment by NPS in delivering justice to victims and communities affected.
“To further address gender-based violence while prioritising the dignity and privacy of survivors, the National Police Service established a Directorate of Gender and incorporated Gender Desks and Child Protection Units in police stations,” he stated.
He assures that they are continuously training and capacity-building police officers on referral pathways.
According to Muchiri, the establishment and progressive rollout of POLICARE, a one-stop centre, has also provided comprehensive support services, including legal, psychosocial, police, and health support, to survivors of gender-based violence at no cost.
“We are working in collaboration with various agencies, including the State Department for Gender and the Presidential Working Group on Femicide, to strengthen prevention mechanisms against these heinous acts and to build public confidence that everyone is safe,” Muchiri said.
The formation of the unit comes months after the Kirinyaga Governor, Ann Waiguru, called for the formation of a special unit to address the menace of rising cases of femicide.
Waiguru said the unit will help in probing and stemming the ongoing killings of women in the country.
While terming femicide as the most extreme manifestation of violence against women, the governor called for a long-term solution to the killings to be established.
