President William Ruto, on Thursday, 21 November, urged parents across the country to do a better job of raising boys to help curb the cases of femicide in the country.
Speaking during the State of the Nation Address, Ruto reiterated the importance of instilling good morals in boys from an early age to prevent them from growing up to become perpetrators of gender-based violence in the future.
“It is time for each of us, to do our part in raising boys into morally upright men who will never need to affirm their masculinity at the expense of women,” Ruto stated.
He went further to reiterate equality between the two genders stating, “Women are not 2nd class citizens.”
In order to come up with a permanent solution to the vice, Ruto stated that he had involved women leaders in discussions and tasked Deputy President Kithure Kindiki to lead the deliberations.
“I have held discussions with other leaders in government and tasked the Deputy President to reach out and facilitate collaborative, broad-based and multi-sectoral deliberations and recommend effective and radically affirmative actions within 6 months,” he stated.
His address comes just a day after he made similar remarks following a meeting with female leaders to discuss the rampant femicide cases that have been plaguing the nation.
In his Wednesday address, Ruto emphasised that the government fully supports women and would leave no stone unturned to ensure all those involved in the homicides are prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
"Let me reiterate that the government, in its women’s agenda, is explicitly committed to ending all forms of violence. As leaders, we are united in the resolve to ensure that justice is swift and efficient," he added.
To further this agenda, Ruto announced that Ksh100 million had been set aside in support of the upcoming annual 16 days of activism against gender-based violence campaign.
This year’s campaign dubbed Safe Homes, Safe Spaces will kick off on Monday, November 25, and will run for 16 days.
"I urge every Kenyan to join in this movement to speak out, educate, and stand united against cases of femicide. Our communities need education on signs and causes of abuse and the resources available to victims," President Ruto said, inviting Kenyans to participate.
