Pressure mounts for parliament to reject Gender CS nominee

MPs have been urged to reject the nomination of Hannah Wendot Cheptumo as Cabinet Secretary for Gender.

Kenyans on social media, along with human rights organisations and women’s rights advocates, are calling on lawmakers to dismiss Cheptumo’s nomination following controversial remarks she made about femicide and Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

While responding to questions on how she would address the alarming rise in femicide, particularly among university students, Cheptumo suggested that victims were partly to blame, claiming many young women fall prey because they are “looking for money.”

Her comments have sparked a firestorm of criticism, especially considering the role she is seeking—leading the ministry responsible for protecting women and vulnerable groups from violence and exploitation.

Ironically, her remarks come at a time when President William Ruto’s administration is working towards lasting solutions to the GBV crisis through a newly constituted Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence, including femicide.

Cheptumo, 57, argued that femicide is largely a result of economic dependency.

“Femicide is caused by dependency. If girls had economic power, they wouldn’t rely on either gender. Sometimes, they end up in risky situations while seeking an alternative source of income,” said the nominee.

She also suggested that a lack of education contributes to the rise in femicide cases. “If a woman is educated, chances are they will avoid some of the challenges present in our society,” Cheptumo argued.

However, the committee’s chairperson, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, quickly interjected: “The girls who have been killed in Airbnbs are in universities… they are educated!”

Confidently, Cheptumo, widow of the late Baringo Senator William Cheptumo, responded, “They are educated, but those ones are looking for money.” It is this statement by President Ruto’s nominee for the CS for Gender post that has sparked public outrage.

Gender equality and women’s rights organisation My Body My Body described Cheptumo’s remarks as “offensive, reckless, ignorant, and dangerous.”

“It shifts blame onto the victims, emboldens perpetrators, and trivializes the pain of families mourning their daughters, sisters, and friends. We cannot afford to normalize such ignorance at the expense of women’s lives. Women in Kenya are being hunted down, violated, and killed,” reads the statement.

Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo also condemned Cheptumo’s comments, calling them “irresponsible and unfortunate.”

“It’s the most irresponsible statement I’ve heard—shockingly from a woman. Some students were killed simply for rejecting advances from fellow classmates.” Odhiambo added, “We have situations where husbands have killed their wives and cut them into pieces. What money was she looking for?”

 A government advisor involved in GBV policy formulation, who sought anonymity to protect her role said “That is the most callous statement I have heard from a woman and a person looking to be in charge of a policymaking docket tasked with safeguarding rights of women.”

“Even if someone is looking for money, does that justify killing women and girls, especially university students?” she posed.