Hannah Wendot Cheptumo, who has been nominated for the position of Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Gender, is now facing growing criticism from many people across the country.

This backlash began shortly after she made several controversial statements during her vetting by the National Assembly committee.

To begin with, her comments about the causes of femicide in Kenya have angered a large part of the public.

Many citizens have expressed their frustration and disappointment, and they are now demanding that her nomination be rejected.

They believe that someone who holds such views should not be given a leadership role in a ministry that is supposed to protect and support women and vulnerable groups.

During the vetting session, Cheptumo gave her opinion on why femicide is increasing, especially among university students.

According to her, many young women become victims because they are economically dependent and lack proper education.

She suggested that, in their efforts to seek financial help, some young women unknowingly put themselves in dangerous situations.

Blaming the victims

However, her words caused immediate outrage. Many people felt that she was blaming the victims for the violence committed against them.

Instead of focusing on the actions of the perpetrators, she appeared to shift responsibility to the victims themselves.

Both lawmakers and members of the public responded strongly. For example, Speaker Moses Wetang’ula openly challenged her views.

He pointed out that many of the victims she referred to were university students, meaning they were already educated.

Therefore, education alone cannot protect women from gender-based violence. This showed that her reasoning was flawed and ignored the deeper, more complex causes of femicide.

At the same time, several civil society groups, legal experts, and women’s rights organizations have also spoken out.

They all strongly disagreed with Cheptumo’s statements. The president of the Law Society of Kenya, Faith Odhiambo, called her remarks “deeply irresponsible.”

She explained that many women were killed not because they lacked money, but because they refused unwanted romantic advances or because they were in abusive domestic relationships.

Dangerous way of thinking

Furthermore, many activists believe that Cheptumo’s comments reveal a dangerous way of thinking. They say her views show a lack of understanding about the real causes of gender-based violence.

Which, often include unequal power dynamics, toxic masculinity, and a justice system that allows many perpetrators to go unpunished.

These are the issues that must be addressed, and her comments however, seem to completely overlook them.

One gender policy advisor, who preferred to stay anonymous, summed up the issue by saying, “This isn’t just about a poor choice of words, it’s about a dangerous mindset.”

Now, with pressure continuing to grow, many Members of Parliament are being urged by the public to reject Cheptumo’s nomination.

Kenyans across the country are saying loudly and clearly that the Ministry of Gender needs a leader who truly understands the daily struggles that women and girls face.

They want someone who listens with empathy, leads with compassion, and is ready to fight for real change and justice.

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