Opposition leader Raila Odinga has adviced wrangling lovers to walk out of their relationship should they fail to reconcile instead of resorting to murder.

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader issued the advice at a time when the number of cases of gender-based violence and killings among lovers has been on the rise.

“This scourge must come to an end. The abnormality of these murders cannot become the normal No! If you cannot reconcile, then, leave and let live. We need an urgent candid discussion on #GenderBasedViolence as a nation,” Raila said.

In a post on Twitter, Raila also called for urgent measures to tame gender killings.

“It is unfortunate that after winning their partner’s heart, instead of going on to cherish and love them, some suddenly turn physical, and at times horrifically end up killing them. Too many lives are being lost on an almost daily basis going by media reports,” he added.


Charity Ngilu. PHOTO/TWITTER

Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu has also echoed Raila’s sentiments, condemning the rising cases of gender violence, especially targeting women in the country, and called for urgent action to reverse the trend.

“I wish to condemn, in the strongest terms, the increase in senseless killings of women all over the country. The recent murder of Christine Nyokabi in Kasarani by her boyfriend is just one of the many cases of women who have been murdered over the last two years and their cases have remained unresolved," Ngilu said. 

This comes hot on the heels of the murder of Catherine Nyokabi, 24 on April 14, which has been linked by police to his estranged 38-year-old married boyfriend Evans Karani.

It also comes more than a week after a police officer attached to Interior CS Fred Matiang’i’s office shot and killed his wife before turning the gun on himself following a domestic row.