The brutal murder of a young Kenyan woman in a short-term rental apartment has sparked national outrage and highlighted the issue of gender-based violence in Kenya. Police are investigating the case, in which the victim was dismembered and her remains stuffed into a bag, but the suspect remains at large. This killing, alongside another recent murder of a socialite in Nairobi, has been dubbed the “Airbnb murders,” though Airbnb confirmed its platform was not involved. Amnesty International and activists have condemned the violence, with reports showing that at least 34% of Kenyan women experienced physical violence in 2022.
The case has also brought attention to the “manosphere,” a network of online platforms promoting misogyny and opposing feminism. On social media, many men have blamed the victims for their own deaths, while the hashtag “STOP KILLING WOMEN” trended in response to the rampant victim-blaming. Kenyan MP Esther Passaris and activist Onyango Otieno noted that these attitudes reflect a patriarchal culture where women are dehumanized, and men resist evolving gender roles. Social media has become a battleground where misogynistic narratives clash with calls for accountability and equality.
Activist Onyango Otieno explained that the rise of feminism has left many Kenyan men feeling displaced as they grapple with changing gender dynamics. The “manosphere” serves as a space for some men to defend the patriarchal status quo, which they feel is being eroded. He emphasized that the socialization of men in Kenya often fails to teach them how to coexist with women as equals, fueling a culture of misogyny and violence. Campaigners continue to call for systemic change to address these deeply rooted societal issues.
