Strengthen prevention mechanisms to combat femicide’, PS urges

JAMES ODERO-PCO 

State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action Principal Secretary Anne Wang’ombe has called for the formation of a multi-agency action and vigilance to combat the rising cases of femicide and other forms of gen der-based violence in the country. 

PS Wang’ombe who be moaned the recent brutal killings targeting members of the public, mostly women and young girls, said the heinous acts of violence both destroy families and shake the community as a whole making people live in constant fear. 

“Not only do these horrific events devastate families, they also shake the community as a whole, causing people to live in constant fear and anxiety about their own safety and that of their loved ones,” the PS said. 

She made the remarks during a joint press brief ng with the National Police Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigation in Nairobi to provide a national update on the investigations into the murder incidents.

According to the Deputy Inspector General of the National Police Service Eliud Lagat, murder incidents against women and girls have risen in the recent past, with the last three months alone recording 97 cases. 

As global trade expands, particularly in agricultural commodities like food crops, the risk of pest intro duction and spread across borders increases. Countries need to actively monitor these risks and use accurate diagnostics to determine the presence or absence of plant pests. 

This in formation is crucial for making informed phytosanitary decisions, effectively managing risks, and protecting borders. 

KEPHIS inspectors will conduct pest surveys, routinely investigating the presence or absence of pests and gathering in formation on trends and factors such as changing weather patterns. 

Currently, Kenya has initiated the application of this technology for the surveillance of key quar antine pests such as Ba nana Bunchy Top virus, Fusarium wilt-TR4, and Xylella fastidiosa.