FIDA-Kenya Condemns Rising Gender-Based Violence Cases in Mombasa

The Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya) has raised alarm over increasing gender-based violence in Mombasa County and called for urgent action to protect survivors.

The organisation highlighted the recent death of its client, Susan Achieng Mitoh, who died from stab wounds inflicted by her partner.

Surge in Cases

FIDA-Kenya says it documented 15 serious gender-based violence cases in Mombasa in the first three months of 2026 alone.

Officials described the trend as a growing crisis that needs immediate intervention.

“Warning signs were obvious in this case, including earlier reports of violence and destruction of property, yet the system did not provide adequate protection,” a FIDA-Kenya representative said.

Criticism of Police Response

The group criticised the initial police response to Susan’s complaint in March. Officers allegedly advised the couple to reconcile instead of offering protection or taking legal action.

However, FIDA-Kenya commended the Deputy County Criminal Investigations Officer (DCIO) Changamwe and DCI officers for their swift action after the April 4 attack. They tracked and arrested the suspect, who had gone into hiding. He remains in custody after the court denied him bail.

What Next

A postmortem on Susan Achieng Mitoh’s body is scheduled today at Port Reitz Funeral Home. Murder charges will then be filed at the High Court.

FIDA-Kenya urged police to improve response protocols, including mandatory risk assessments for domestic violence reports and better protection for survivors.

The organisation also called on community leaders and the public to report incidents promptly and support survivor-focused efforts.