JKUAT students use runway to tell Kenya's brutal femicide story

Past midnight, fake blood still glistened under harsh auditorium lights. A young woman adjusted her runner's medal – attached to it, a knife that told a story of murdered athletes. In the packed hall at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, hundreds of students remained transfixed, watching their peers transform a fashion show into a powerful cry against gender-based violence (GBV).

"Earlier this year, there was a femicide case, and she happened to be my friend in high school," said 21-year-old nursing student and model Wendy Nekesa, her voice steady despite the weight of her words.

"I just discovered that it can actually happen to anyone and I am not safe, so that has been a motivating factor."

Kenya is facing a devastating surge in femicide cases. According to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, authorities are handling one death every 24 hours over the last three months, with several university students among the victims. This grim reality has transformed what could have been just another campus event into a deeply personal mission for many participants.

Read: Kenya's worrying femicide statistics exacerbated by victim blaming: Where did we drop the ball?

The fashion show, which saw 11 students strutting down the catwalk last week, turned traditional glamour on its head. Each look depicted the brutal reality of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) – from a bruised mother wearing a kanga, balancing a basket while carrying her baby, to a male victim of rape, his shorts bloodied and mouth taped shut.

Nekesa channelled the stories of murdered athletes Agnes Tirop and Rebecca Cheptegei in her first look, wearing a running uniform with a Kenyan flag adorning her back. A Daily Nation article declaring the death of another female athlete was pinned to the flag, her uniform splattered with fake blood. "I am a runner, so I usually do a lot of morning runs and the Cheptegei case really got to me," she said.

Fourth-year applied mathematics student Ryan Okeyo, attended the event, driven by the brutal murder and mutilation of his friend and fellow student, Rita Waeni Muendo, earlier this year. "Her body was cut, so it's more of a way of just coming to show support," said Ryan. "Lives are being lost and it's time to take action."

Spoken word

Organised by Badili Africa, a Pan-African women's rights organisation, the show aimed to raise awareness ahead of the international 16 Days of Activism campaign against gender-based violence. The organisers took a novel approach, infusing the serious topic with elements of entertainment to meet young people "where they are."

Students were treated to a night of dances, singing, and spoken word performances alongside the powerful runway presentations.

"We realised art is a good vehicle for breaking down information and it is the fastest way people can relate to these issues of sexual and gender-based violence," said Hellen Njoki, a program advisor at Badili Africa and one of the event's lead organisers.

"We want to ensure that everyone knows that SGBV can happen to anyone, and it is a national disaster," Hellen explained, noting that "we've had almost 129 women die this year because of femicide."

She pointed to UN Women statistics showing that SGBV is more prevalent on campuses. "That is why we focus on young women."

Read: I lost my two sisters to femicide: Grace Onyango story on why love is not enough

The event went beyond fashion and performance. A moderated panel with campus leaders tackled consent and accountability, while models participated in a question and answer session that addressed crucial questions like 'what to do when a friend tells you they have been assaulted.'

The session culminated in crowning a winning male and female model who best conveyed the evening's message.

"I think there is a need to increase the learning and knowledge, especially on statistics," said Gloria Munyiva, the deputy speaker of the student union.

"There is a lot of work to be done." From her leadership position, Munyiva observed that "the cases have been very high. But I believe that my institution is doing every means possible to ensure that all genders are able to get the justice they deserve."

This commitment to change extends beyond the event itself. Badili Africa is currently working with JKUAT to review its sexual harassment policy, while the Campus Me Too movement continues its advocacy work on campus.

"I love the fact that it's actually 1am in the morning and people are still seated, the room is super packed," said Bina Maseno, the executive director of Badili Africa, who emphasises the power of peer advocacy. What matters most "is the fact that they're seeing their own peers standing up and advocating for an end to gender-based violence."

Campus Me Too

For Marion Kimberly, 21, who joined the Campus Me Too movement after experiencing unwanted touching at JKUAT, modelling in the show despite initial anxiety was about creating awareness. Her message resonates with fierce clarity: don't victim blame and "preach the gospel against SGBV. Don't be quiet, whether you're a bystander, whether you're a survivor, don't be quiet."

Diana Nekesa, JKUAT's Campus Me Too lead, explained their mission: "It's all about serving the students and actually sensitising people on sexual harassment."

This is particularly crucial as an April 2024 study found that nearly 90 per cent of students at Nairobi's tertiary institutions "have witnessed technology-facilitated gender-based violence."

As the fashion show wrapped up, students lingered, discussing assault response and support.

"This is not a professor coming to talk down to you," said Bina. "It is your fellow peer telling you 'hey, if you're caught up in this, this is what you need to do.'"

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