The wakes and protests aim to honor the memory of the victims and to call for an end to the violence. Muthoni Maingi, one of the conveners of the nationwide protests, emphasized the pervasive fear that women in Kenya live under due to the threat of gender-based violence. She also highlighted the role of social media in bringing visibility to these issues, stating, “It has been a big driver of people beginning to understand that these are not one-off incidents.”
The End Femicide Kenya Movement, a collective of over 1,000 organizations and individuals, organized the vigils with the hope of pressuring the government to declare femicide and violence against women as a national emergency. They also demand the establishment of a commission to eliminate both issues. The movement’s statement poignantly captures the urgency of their cause: “It leaves many of us asking, ‘Where do we go when home is where we could be killed?’”
As Kenya grapples with this crisis, the “Dark Valentine” night watch serves as a somber reminder of the dark realities of gender-based violence and the urgent need for action to protect the lives and rights of women.
Debora Momanyi, a student and human rights activist, poignantly remarked, “Love is not something that should put you at risk for death. So if we can’t have a healthy kind of love, what’s there to celebrate about?” This sentiment underscored the gravity of the situation and the need for societal change.
The “Dark Valentine” vigil followed a series of protests in January, which saw thousands marching in various Kenyan cities and towns, making it the largest anti-femicide demonstration in the country’s history. These protests were sparked by a series of tragic incidents, including the case of Grace Wangari, a 24-year-old who was allegedly stabbed to death by her boyfriend during a domestic quarrel. Her parents, Susan Wairimu Thuiya and Patrick Thuiya Kamande, were initially unaware of the severity of the situation until it was too late.
In a poignant twist on a day typically associated with romance and love, hundreds of Kenyans dressed in black gathered in Nairobi for a wake named “Dark Valentine” to protest against the alarming increase in femicides across the nation. Since the beginning of the year, over 16 cases of femicide have been reported, highlighting a disturbing trend of violence against women.
Merlin Kawira, a student and founder of the mental health support group Africa Arts and Mental Talks, expressed the collective sentiment, stating, “We do not condone femicide at all. We are losing so many women, so many girls.” In a departure from traditional Valentine’s Day celebrations, students and activists came together to remember the victims of femicide by lighting candles, chanting their names, and holding red roses as symbols of their mourning.
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