Advocacy groups in Kenya have given the government 40 days to take decisive action against the country’s growing gender-based violence crisis, according to Al Jazeera.

The ultimatum, issued on May 21 by the End Femicide movement alongside women’s rights, human rights, and child protection organisations, comes amid rising concerns over violence against women and children. The Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya) says it receives approximately 70 gender-based violence cases every week across its offices in Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu.

Photo Credit: Simon Maina/AFP

Pressure on the government intensified on Monday as thousands of protesters, most of them women, marched through Nairobi in one of the largest demonstrations against gender-based violence seen in the Kenyan capital in recent months. The protest brought traffic to a standstill across parts of the city’s central business district.

Among the cases that have fuelled public outrage is that of Rachel Wandeto, who reportedly suffered severe burns after unknown attackers allegedly poured a chemical substance on her.

Former Kenyan Chief Justice David Maraga joined demonstrators in Nairobi, adding his voice to calls for stronger action against femicide and the growing number of child disappearances.

Many participants dressed in white and carried red roses, gathering around symbolic coffins covered in flower petals during an emotional tribute to women and children who have been killed or remain missing.

The demonstrations also highlighted broader concerns about child safety in Kenya. Recent figures show 1,636 reports of missing children, 1,952 abductions, 173 trafficking incidents, and 6,820 cases of child abandonment.

While authorities say about 78% of reported cases have been resolved through rescue efforts and family reunifications, approximately 2,328 children remain unaccounted for, raising alarm among child rights advocates and government officials.