Our Story
2018 was a bewildering year, a time when the fog seemed to lift from our collective gaze, revealing a stark reality. It was a year marred by the loss of women, and distressingly, the blame for these tragedies was unjustly placed upon them. Two heart-wrenching deaths, in particular, cast a shadow over our consciousness: that of Sharon Otieno, allegedly taken by the then Governor of her hometown Migori County, and Monica Kimani, whose life was brutally cut short while she lay in her bathtub, her throat mercilessly slit open. As we shared these stories amongst ourselves, it became painfully evident that these women were not only robbed of their lives but also condemned and demonized for the way they chose to live. In the midst of these conversations, we stumbled upon news of yet another woman’s passing, a life extinguished silently, absent from the public eye.
In solemn reflection, we raised our glasses in homage to the departed, pondering the question that hung heavy in the air: What can we do?
December of 2018 marked a turning point, as January of the following year saw the inception of our plan. The Counting Dead Women page emerged on Facebook, its purpose clear—to compile a somber tally of lives lost to violence. We began by meticulously gathering the names of twenty girls and women who fell victim to femicide in January alone. This modest undertaking ignited a journey that entailed scouring newspapers late into the night, and intently listening to national news agencies, ever vigilant for reports of femicides. For five long years, we faithfully recorded these tragic incidents, driven by a deep yearning to expose the scale of the crisis.
And now, we find ourselves at a juncture where questions once again beckon us: What lies beyond mere counting? In response, Femicide Count – Kenya came into existence in December of 2022, resolute in its commitment to safeguarding, research, and capacity building. Our focus has shifted from merely documenting the lives lost to taking concrete actions that protect and empower women and girls. In pursuit of safeguarding, we endeavor to create an environment where women are shielded from harm, both physical and emotional. Through research, we seek to unravel the intricate layers that contribute to the perpetuation of violence, thereby illuminating pathways to lasting change.
Moreover, we dedicate ourselves to building the capacities of individuals and institutions, nurturing a collective strength that can challenge the prevailing narrative and dismantle the structures that enable such atrocities to persist. Our journey is far from over, and the road ahead may be arduous. Yet, driven by a shared vision of justice and equality, we press onward. Together, we aim to transform the discourse surrounding femicide, weaving threads of empathy, understanding, and compassion into the fabric of society.
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