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A 25-year-old woman is under arrest in Bomet County following the alleged fatal stabbing of her 33-year-old boyfriend, a tragic incident reportedly sparked by a dispute over a mobile phone. This event highlights the alarming rise in domestic violence cases across Kenya.
A 25-year-old woman, identified as Faith Cherono, is currently in police custody in Bomet County after allegedly stabbing her 33-year-old boyfriend, Emmanuel Kiprono, to death. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, in Samoget village, Bomet East Sub-County, reportedly stemmed from an argument over a mobile phone.
According to Bomet East Sub-County Police Commander Michael Singa, Cherono visited Kiprono's home to demand the return of a phone she claimed was hers. While the couple initially agreed to resolve the matter later that day, witnesses later saw them walking towards the Mau Forest area. It was there that Cherono allegedly attacked Kiprono, striking him fatally on the back of the head with a sword.
Following the attack, Cherono reportedly fled the scene, crossing into Narok County, where she later surrendered to authorities at Tendwet Police Station. Police officers who visited the crime scene recovered Kiprono's body, which had a deep cut on the back of the head. His remains have been moved to Tenwek Hospital Mortuary for a post-mortem examination.
This tragic event adds to a concerning trend of domestic violence incidents resulting in fatalities across Kenya. In 2024, Kenya recorded an unprecedented surge in femicide cases, with at least 170 women killed, a 79% increase from 95 cases in 2023, according to Africa Uncensored and Odipo Dev. Between September and November 2024 alone, law enforcement agencies documented 97 femicide cases, averaging more than one woman killed daily.
The issue of gender-based violence (GBV) is considered endemic in Kenya, with patriarchal views and insufficient legal protections cited as major contributing factors. Approximately 41% of Kenyan women of childbearing age have experienced domestic violence. Furthermore, 60% of women's killings globally are committed by an intimate partner or family member.
Kenya has a robust legal framework addressing gender-based violence, including the Constitution of Kenya (2010), the Sexual Offences Act (2006), the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act (2011), and the Protection Against Domestic Violence Act (2015). The Protection Against Domestic Violence Act (2015) specifically criminalises domestic violence and allows third parties, including Civil Society Organizations, to report such incidents.
Despite these legal provisions, challenges in implementation persist, including a lack of specialized prosecutors, heavy caseloads, and insufficient forensic facilities. In response to public outcry over rising GBV cases, President William Ruto established a 42-member task force to address the issue, though concerns about its effectiveness remain among advocates.
The Nairobi Women's Hospital's Gender Violence Recovery Center reports receiving approximately 4,000 gender-based violence cases monthly, underscoring the widespread nature of the crisis. Activists continue to advocate for comprehensive reforms to ensure women's safety and justice, attributing the rise in GBV to systemic misogyny and inadequate legal protections.
The continued prevalence of domestic violence and femicide has severe implications for Kenyan society, impacting not only the victims and their families but also hindering national development. The silent epidemic of gender-based violence contributes to a climate of fear and insecurity, particularly for women and girls.
While the suspect in the Bomet case has surrendered, the full circumstances leading to the fatal stabbing, including the exact nature of the dispute over the mobile phone and whether there was a history of violence in the relationship, are part of ongoing police investigations. The effectiveness of existing legal frameworks and government initiatives in curbing the rising tide of GBV remains a subject of debate among stakeholders.
The public will be keenly watching the progress of the police investigation and subsequent legal proceedings in this case. Further, the effectiveness of the government's task force on gender-based violence and the implementation of existing laws will be critical in addressing the broader issue of domestic violence in Kenya.
