Hanna Wendot Cheptumo, nominee for the Gender Cabinet Secretary position in Kenya, faced significant backlash during her vetting process on Monday. Her comments, which appeared to suggest that young women who lost their lives in Airbnbs were to blame for their own deaths by seeking financial gain, have drawn widespread condemnation.

Criticism of Cheptumo’s Statements

While testifying before the National Assembly Committee on Appointments, chaired by Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Cheptumo expressed the belief that economic dependency is a driving factor behind femicide. She stated, “If girls were able to have economic power, they would not depend on the other gender. Sometimes you find them in places where they are exposed because they are trying to get an alternative source of income.”

“But the girls who are killed in Airbnbs are in universities, and they are educated,” Wetang’ula noted, challenging Cheptumo’s assertion.

In response, Cheptumo maintained, “Yes, they are educated, but those ones are looking for money,” further igniting debate among committee members.

Strong Reactions from Committee Members

The remarks prompted immediate pushback, particularly from Mombasa Woman Representative Mishi Mboko. She emphasized that attributing the murders to young women seeking money is inappropriate and dismissive of the broader issues surrounding femicide.

“It is very wrong to say that those women who have been found butchered, their bodies dismembered, put in a sack — that they were doing that for money,” Mboko asserted.

Addressing Early Marriage and Cultural Norms

Beyond her controversial statements on femicide, Cheptumo spoke on the topic of early marriage, linking it to cultural norms and economic pressures. She noted that in her community, familial financial incentives often drive parents to marry off their daughters young.

“These are men who give out their daughters because they want bride price. Once a girl develops some parts of the body, they are encouraged to be married off before she gets pregnant,” Cheptumo explained.

Urgent Need for Educational Empowerment

Cheptumo advocated for education as a critical tool to combat both early marriage and femicide, suggesting that vocational training could provide alternatives for young women who struggle academically. She emphasized, “We need to encourage our girls. If a woman is educated, chances are that they will avoid some of these challenges in society.”

Data on Femicide in Kenya

The backdrop for this discussion is a troubling increase in femicide across Kenya. Recent reports indicate that at least 129 women were murdered in the first three months of 2025 alone, with the majority occurring in Busia, West Pokot, and Nandi counties. March recorded the highest fatalities with 44 cases, followed closely by January and February.

Statistics reveal that men were responsible for 85% of femicides in recent years, highlighting an urgent need for intensified discourse and action on gender-based violence.