Home Politics Junet Mohamed joins lobby groups in calling out Hannah Cheptumo

Junet Mohamed joins lobby groups in calling out Hannah Cheptumo

Hannah Cheptumo sparks national uproar as rights groups and MPs reject her nomination over controversial femicide remarks.

by Bonny
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Pressure is growing on President William Ruto’s nominee for Gender Cabinet Secretary, Hannah Cheptumo, after a wave of criticism sparked by remarks she made during her vetting before the National Assembly.

Cheptumo, who is the widow of the late Baringo Senator William Cheptumo, has come under fire from women’s rights groups and members of the public who found her statements on femicide offensive and misguided.

During the session on Monday, April 14, she suggested that many cases of femicide are linked to young women’s desire for money and lack of education, saying that economic empowerment could reduce such incidents. Her comments have been described as tone-deaf and out of touch with the reality many women face in Kenya.

Hanna Wendot Cheptumo appearing before the vetting committee on Monday April 14, 2025. PHOTO/@NAssemblyKE/X

As reported by Kenyans, a network of 15 rights-based organisations under the banner ‘Coalition Against Sexual Violence’ released a strong joint statement calling for the withdrawal of Cheptumo’s nomination.

The groups stated that her remarks demonstrated a deep misunderstanding of gender-based violence and amounted to blaming the victims.

According to the statement, saying that most women who fall victim to femicide are uneducated and economically dependent ignores the complex and systemic roots of violence against women in the country.

The groups stressed that such views are harmful and only reinforce dangerous stereotypes that put more women at risk.

The lobby groups further demanded that President Ruto immediately rescind her nomination, arguing that her views disqualify her from a position meant to safeguard and advance women’s rights. They also called on the government to take concrete steps to address the root causes of gender-based violence.

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These include launching public awareness campaigns, strengthening the justice system, and offering better support services for victims.

The uproar surrounding Cheptumo’s nomination has also attracted attention in Parliament, where Suna East MP Junet Mohamed strongly criticised her comments.

He called on her to issue a public apology, saying that no woman deserves to die regardless of their economic situation or circumstances. He reminded the nominee that looking for money should never be an excuse for violence and that her duty, if appointed, would be to protect the vulnerable, not shame them.

Cheptumo’s defenders have pointed to her experience and passion for gender issues, but even those sympathetic to her background agree her recent remarks were highly inappropriate.

Many Kenyans are now questioning whether someone who holds such views can truly lead a ministry that is meant to fight for gender equality and justice for women.

The situation has highlighted the need for leaders who not only understand the deep social challenges women face but also speak and act in a way that uplifts rather than blames them.

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