Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja on Sunday revealed that his government was working on a plan to build safe houses for domestic violence victims after cases of femicide have been on the rise across the country.
In the latest incident, bones belonging to a female victim were found dumped at the entrance of Lang'ata Cemetry.
Speaking in Nairobi during the 73rd anniversary of the African Divine Church, Sakaja revealed that his office, in partnership with that of Woman Representative Esther Passaris, was working on a plan to save many victims of the rage.
According to Sakaja, the plan will see many victims saved from unhealthy relationships, hence contributing to the national debate to end the ever-rising cases of women who are murdered and bodies mutilated.
''Recently, we discovered the bones of a female victim at Lang’ata Cemetry and it is very disheartening. It is time for us to take a stand. Together with Esther, we are taking a stand to construct a safe house, If you are in a house and you are being abused, don’t stay there because tomorrow you will be murdered,’’ Sakaja stated.
The Governor further revealed that there was a safe house already operational in Gigiri constructed with funds from the National Government Affirmative Action Fund(NGAAF).
He also lashed out at the perpetrators of the violence against women, asking those implicated in the vice to stop. He added that it was wrong for some people to be the victims of violence rather than criticise the act itself.
''Let us stop saying that we should advise our ladies on the kind of people that they should meet and avoid meeting, do blame the victims, there is no justification for a killing a female or anybody in the country,’’ he added.
Sakaja further asked President William Ruto to assist in the war against femicide rage by deploying additional state resources to combat the vice.
According to Sakaja, empowering the police and enhancing surveillance operations would help in cornering the perpetrators of the violence against women across the country.
''Your Excellency, you are here. The women of Nairobi are crying, the women of our country are crying, let us give them security, let us also look into the affairs of our police and surveillance operations,’’ he added.
Sakaja’s comments came after bones believed to be of a female victim were found at the entrance of the Lang’ata Cemetry in Nairobi. The bones were defleshed and seemed to be boiled.
The discovery sparked rage online across various social media platforms on what might have possibly transpired before the victim met the unfortunate death.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat recently disclosed that the police had recorded a total of 97 femicide cases in the last three months alone.
