Udgoon Siyad Mobilizes Women Leaders in Fight Against Gender-Based Violence
Nairobi – Garissa Woman representative Udgoon Siyad, first term member of parliament and an advocate for women’s rights joined protesters in Nairobi sparked by the alarming surge in violence against women.
The demonstration against the escalating femicide crisis was attended by hundreds of activists who gathered in cities across Kenya, including Nairobi, Nakuru, Mombasa, Nyeri, and Lodwar, some carrying placards with the names of those who were killed.
A 2022 survey found at least one in three Kenyan women had endured physical violence at some point in their lives.
Legislator Udgoon expressed her anger while addressing a crowd in Nairobi, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
“Femicide has no region. I am from Garissa, and it is happening right in Garissa. It is happening in Mombasa. It happens in Nairobi. It is happening everywhere,” noted MP Udgoon Siyad.
She appealed to the government to address the urgent issue, equating femicide cases to a threat on par with security concerns such as al-Shabab.
The Garissa Women MP has called for justice, urging authorities to hold accountable those orchestrating the murders of women.
“Women are getting killed. Those men orchestrating the murder of our women must be brought to book,” she declared.
Ms. Udgoon said femicide poses a significant threat that demands swift and decisive action from the government.
Amid the outcry, women leaders vowed to champion the rights of women in Kenya, with Garissa Women MP Udgoon Siyad taking a strong stand.
She expressed the collective commitment of women leaders, underscoring the need for unity in the fight against gender-based violence.
The legislator also extended an invitation to the First Lady of the Republic to join the cause, emphasizing the importance of a united front.
“As women leaders, we will fight for the rights of the women in Kenya. We will fight for the rights of the women of this Kenyan. The First Lady of the Republic should have been here with us today. Let us. I know she’s hearing us. Please, please. Let’s fight for the women of Kenya together. Thank you very much and God bless you all,” she said.
The demonstrations and impassioned remarks come in the wake of a 2022 survey revealing that at least one in three Kenyan women has experienced physical violence at some point in their lives.
Amnesty International reported more than 500 cases of femicide in Kenya between 2016 and 2023, underscoring the pressing need for urgent and systemic interventions to address this harrowing crisis.
Campaigners are calling on authorities to expedite justice for recent victims and declare femicide a national emergency, distinct from murder, to ensure comprehensive and targeted efforts to combat gender-based violence.