By JULIUS MBALUTO

Kemi Badenoch has won the UK's Conservative Party race to replace the former Prime Minister Richi Sunak. She becomes the first Black women to lead the party. She campaigned promising to return the party back to its founding principles.

The 44 year-old Kemi Badenoch has promised to shrink the state and challenge institutional left-wing thinking in support of the principles of free speech, free market and enterprise. She beat the former Conservative Minister for immigration Robert Jenrick by winning 57 per cent of the Conservative members vote against Robert Jenrick's  43 per cent.

Kemi achievement is historical, she is receiving accolades from  different quarters. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised her saying: 

"the first Black leader of a Westminster party is a proud moment for our country".

Listening to the security authorities speak about femicide cases in Kenya gives the impression that they have not yet appreciated the enormity of this monster. The police do not want us to associate the close to 100 women murdered over the past 90 days with femicide, insisting that a number of those cases were just normal crimes. That statement is quite casual. Unless we have 97 investigation reports clearly detailing the motive of each incident and with all the culprits apprehended, we cannot join them in that conclusion. 

It is clear that the female gender has become an easy target for the most gruesome of murders, mostly perpetrated by men. The worst bit of the statistics is that a good percentage of the cases are associated with intimate partners who turn into monsters. Generally, members of the female gender are targeted for both their emotional and physical vulnerability.

Femicide cases are more often a direct consequence of gender-based violence cases that have remained unmitigated despite the efforts being made through policy and law. In 2004, the government launched gender desks in all police stations. The desks were meant to provide a safe haven for victims to report any threats to their lives. However, several years later, they clearly have not survived to serve that function. In some of the stations, these desks have completely collapsed or never existed as a serious office worth noting.  

These desks are particularly important in addressing intimate partner violence. Femicide cases as a result of intimate partner violence are characterized by a progression of domestic issues that can be resolved if reported and effectively handled. One way of doing that is by making the police station an attractive place for either gender to not just report incidents but also to be heard and understood.

That means the gender desk must not be adequately resourced and manned by an officer with extra qualifications in guidance and counselling. Picture this: following the gruesome murder of one Scarlet Wahu in the beginning of the year, many women came forth and confirmed to have encountered the key suspect, John Matara. In those cases, their lives were clearly in danger. If just one of those cases had been investigated properly, Wahu may not have had to encounter him. It could be that perpetrators have been emboldened by the slow wheels of justice.

But this is not just a security issue but also a social issue. Key members of society, such as teachers and religious leaders, must regain their trust and become voices of reason. They must weed out those among them that have broken the trust. 

The social fabric that has been torn apart must be repaired. We must remind each other that when we are talking about women, we are actually talking about our mothers, sisters and daughters. We must appeal to people’s consciences on this matter. Men must know that their cardinal role in society is to protect women and children and not to hurt or kill them. By Mike Nyagwoka | The Standard

The Senate Committee on Justice Legal Affairs and Human Rights has rejected a Bill seeking to extend the term limits for elected officials in Kenya, including the presidency following strong opposition to the proposed law reform.

The committee’s chairperson Hillary Kiprotich Sigei said the Bill revealed that 99.99 percent of Kenyans who submitted their views opposed the changes proposed in the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

Sigei stated that the Committee carefully considered all public views regarding the proposed law changes.

“Senate Committee rejects Cherarkey’s bill seeking to extend terms of elected officials from 5 to 7 years. 99.99 percent of 168,801 public submissions opposed the changes. The voice of Kenyans has been unequivocal,” stated Sigei.

The Nandi Senator Samson Cherarkey sponsored a Bill seeking to extend terms of elected officials from the current 5 to 7 years including Governors and Members of Parliament. 

The Bill was also proposing the creation of the office of the Prime Minister that will be appointed by the president similar to the proposal made in the National Dialogue Committee and the Building Bridges Initiative reports.

Other proposals included a proposal to involve the Senate in approving the deployment of the Kenya Defence Forces in any part of the country. Currently, the law states that the executive must seek the approval of the National Assembly. 

The Bill also sought an amendment to Article 181 of the constitution that provides for the procedure for removal from office of a county governor from office or a deputy governor so as to have a decision to impeach a Governor being challenged only at the Supreme Court.

President William Ruto had opposed the controversial proposal reiterating his commitment to upholding the Constitution, urging lawmakers to resist attempts to alter term limits for personal or political gain. Wangechi Purity, Capital News