Gender CS nominee Hanna Wendot Cheptumo on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, distanced herself from her earlier remarks on Monday, April 14, 2025, when she stated that victims of femicide were either uneducated and dependent on men or looking for money.
In a statement, Wendot now says that no woman deserves to be killed under any circumstances, observing that her assertions had been taken out of context during her vetting by the Parliament Committee on Appointments.
“On 14th April 2025, I had the privilege of appearing before the National Assembly committee on appointments for my vetting for the position of CS Gender, the Arts, Heritage and Culture,” Wendot stated.
“In the course of my interview, I made a comment in response to a question on the murder of women in Airbnbs. I would like to take this opportunity to take accountability for this statement and to clarify my position,” she noted
Separate issues
“I sincerely apologise for this statement. I do not hold the belief that any woman (or other human being) deserves to be killed under any circumstances. While I intended to bring out some of the economic challenges that many women face, I improperly related two separate issues.”
Wendot indicated that femicide should be included in the penal code and that the vice transcends across the various socio-economic statuses of women in the society.
“Secondly, femicide is a prevalent issue in our country, and it ought to be specifically included in the Penal Code. Violence on the basis of gender occurs in any and every corner of society, and it affects all women, regardless of their socioeconomic reality,” Wendot said.
Parliament approves
“Kenyan women deserve to be protected under any and all circumstances. Femicide, Gender-based violence and all other forms of discrimination on the basis of gender must be dealt with critically and carefully.”
Adding: “I want every mother, father and child – every Kenyan – to know they can count on me to articulate these issues on their behalf, and with accountability.”
This comes after the National Assembly approved her nomination to occupy the Gender Ministry docket which has remained vacant since August 2024.
National Assembly Majority Leader and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah moved a motion on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, to consider Wendot and her counterpart in the Ministry of Public Service, Geoffrey Ruku, noting that they were found qualified to hold the positions they had been nominated for.