Thousands of Kenyans marched through central Nairobi this Monday to protest a severe rise in femicide and child disappearances across the country.
Organizers from the End Femicide movement demanded that President William Ruto declare the growing wave of violence a national crisis.
The peaceful demonstration brought traffic to a complete standstill as thousands of citizens occupied major streets in the capital’s business district.
Participants dressed in symbolic white clothing held red roses and gathered around mock coffins to honor the many recent victims.
A large memorial wall stood at the center of the emotional gathering, displaying the names of deceased women and children.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga joined the crowds, lending prominent legal support to the demands for immediate government action.
Protesters accused the state of failing to investigate cases thoroughly and called for faster inquiries and harsher legal penalties.
Official data revealed that over ten thousand child protection cases were officially documented between January 2025 and March 2026.
While authorities successfully resolved the majority of these reports, more than two thousand children still remain completely unaccounted for.
The government did not immediately respond to Monday’s protest, though police recently formed a specialized homicide unit to investigate gender-based violence.