The last couple of days and weeks, in Kenya, women are being killed by their husbands, lovers, husband’s lovers or unknown people almost on a daily basis.

 

This killing is a process, it doesn’t just happen. It is a vicious cycle of abuse.

When that woman is being choked yet again,

When her children are being banged against walls,

When she is tied up and beaten with all sorts of objects,

When she is screaming her lungs out for hours and neighbours close their ears,

When she rolls over all black and blue,

When she rolls over all bloody and somehow manages to clean up,

When she cooks up a story and plaster a smile on her face as she walks into Church/Work/Meeting,

When her abuser come crawling back,

When he says sorry and showers her with gifts.

 

Then the cycle repeats itself . . .

Some make it out walking dead,

Some make it out dead.

 

Every time femicide is reported, a common question unites the observers section:

Why did she not leave?

And my answer is:

Leave and go where?