The shocking rise in femicide cases has led activists to adopt red lipstick as a symbol of their fight for government action and legal reforms aimed at protecting women from violence.
This initiative, called Project Red Lipstick, comes at a time when the country has witnessed a series of femicide incidents.
Recent cases include a heartbreaking story of 3.5 year-old Wamaitha, who was found strangled in Maragua and 31 year-old Naomi Chebet, who was murdered by her partner in Kangemi.
What’s even more troubling is that many of the accused are still free, revealing some significant gaps in Kenya’s justice system.
The campaign is being led by Usikimye Organisation, in partnership with Ogilvy Africa and Joanna K Cosmetics. Their main goal is to address the critical issue that Kenya does not currently recognise femicide as a distinct crime, instead viewing it as a type of murder.
“This leads to inadequate data collection, inconsistent prosecution and perpetuation of impunity,” campaign organisers state in their submission to the Dr. Nancy Baraza-led Femicide Taskforce.
The campaign’s red lipstick symbol has gained traction on social media, with women posting photos wearing the signature shade alongside stories of violence and calls for justice. Campaign hashtags like #MakeFemicideACrime and #EndFemicideKe have garnered thousands of posts.
Organisers have submitted thorough recommendations to Kenya’s Femicide Taskforce, urging recognition of the ongoing crisis and a commitment to take legislative action.
“The systematic and brutal killing of women and girls in Kenya demands an urgent, comprehensive and unwavering response from the government,” the campaign states.
The organisers emphasise the serious nature of femicide in Kenya, insisting that it requires an immediate response from the government to uphold women’s rights to life and equality, as outlined in the constitution.
