Protesters stormed the office of Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir on Friday, May 22, to demand action over rising cases of femicide and gender-based violence in the region and across the country.
The protest comes amid an intensified nationwide outcry against femicide, sparked by the death of gospel singer Rachel Wandeto, who was attacked by unidentified individuals in Mwiki, doused with petrol, and set on fire.
Videos from the scene show protesters banging on the gate to the governor’s office before marching through past an unidentified individual who was stationed there.
Participants gathered outside the building, chanting, “We want a policy,” as they urged authorities to implement stronger protections for vulnerable communities.
Reports indicate that the storming was a culmination of a planned demonstration in which hundreds of protesters marched peacefully along Moi Avenue in Mombasa.
The procession started at Pembe Za Ndovu and moved through major parts of the city, drawing attention from residents and motorists.
Protesters carried banners and placards calling for an end to the normalisation of violence against women and girls. Featured slogans urged the need for justice, protection for survivors, and accountability for the killings of women and children under unclear circumstances.
The demonstration was organised by activists under the EndFemicideKe movement, a group that has been actively campaigning for stricter laws and better enforcement to curb gender-based violence in Kenya.
Local groups were also involved in the demonstration, including Harbour of Healing Hearts and the Amkeni Community Organisation under the Nyali Social Justice Center.
The protest remained largely peaceful, with no incidents of violence, escalation or security intervention reported. Nassir’s office also did not immediately release a statement regarding the protest.
Gender Cabinet Secretary Hanna Wendot Cheptumo condemned the rising cases of gender-based violence and femicide in the country, describing them as a national emergency.
Further, on May 14, the Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services moved to address the escalating cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and violence against children in the Central region by launching a 90-day Rapid Results Initiative (RRI).