Adagala Sounds Alarm as Femicide Wave Deepens, Pushes for National Disaster Declaration

Kenya, 31 May 2026 - The growing tide of femicide and gender-based violence has triggered fresh calls for extraordinary state intervention, with Vihiga Woman Representative Beatrice Adagala demanding that the crisis be declared a national disaster.

Speaking in Luanda during the distribution of National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) grants to women and youth groups on Sunday, Adagala painted a grim picture of a country grappling with an escalating epidemic of violence against women and girls.

Her remarks come amid mounting public concern over a string of brutal killings, sexual assaults and domestic violence cases reported across Kenya.

The legislator argued that femicide and gender-based violence have outgrown the category of ordinary crime and now constitute a national emergency requiring the same urgency, coordination and resource mobilisation often reserved for natural disasters and security threats.

“Cases of femicide and GBV are no longer isolated and have become rampant. They are a national crisis. We must treat this as a disaster so that resources and urgency match the problem,” she said.

Her call reflects a growing national debate over whether existing legal and institutional responses are sufficient to stem a crisis that continues to claim lives despite years of awareness campaigns and policy interventions.

Adagala cited the defilement and killing of a Grade 8 pupil from Masana Comprehensive School, a case that sent shockwaves across Vihiga County and ignited public outrage among parents, civil society organisations and child rights advocates.

The murder became a painful symbol of the vulnerability facing young girls in many parts of the country.

She also referenced allegations involving a police officer in Gambogi accused of raping a woman, saying such incidents undermine public confidence in institutions entrusted with protecting citizens.

“When those tasked with enforcing the law become the alleged perpetrators, it raises serious questions about accountability and public trust,” she observed.

In what she described as a practical response to the crisis, Adagala said she had established a Gender-Based Violence Rescue Centre in Vihiga through NGAAF funding. The facility provides temporary shelter, psychosocial support, legal assistance and referral services for survivors seeking justice and protection.

According to the Woman Representative, the centre has already intervened in numerous cases and is working closely with hospitals, investigators and justice agencies to ensure survivors receive timely support.