This archive report was first published on 19 December 2019.
Kenya: The Dark Reality of 'Love' and Murder ¶
December 19, 2019
A recent incident in Kenya has sparked a heated debate about the way we report on murder cases. The case involves a 17-year-old student who killed a 29-year-old cobbler after he allegedly tried to force her into a sexual act.
According to reports, the 17-year-old student went to the marketplace and was allegedly assaulted by the cobbler. In self-defense, she stabbed him fatally in the ear.
What's disturbing is the way the incident was reported by a local television station, which referred to it as a 'love affair gone wrong'. This kind of reporting perpetuates a culture of violence against women and sends a disturbing message to those who read such words.
GBV activism is crucial in addressing the root causes of femicide and assault on women. The 16 Days of Activism Against GBV campaign is a reminder that the problem is not stopping, and it's time for us to take action.
Women are constantly being blamed for their attacker's actions, and it's time for us to shift the narrative. The 17-year-old student in this case acted in self-defense, and it's not love that led to the murder, but a desperate attempt to protect herself.
It's time for us to stop referring to murder as a 'love affair gone wrong' and start addressing the root causes of violence against women. We must impress on the public that a relationship with a minor is illegal and that rape is a bad idea, particularly when the victim is a 17-year-old student and the perpetrator is 12 years older.
