The Cabinet Secretary nominee for the Ministry of Gender Hannah Wendot Cheptumo is facing mounting criticism after making controversial comments during her vetting by the National Assembly committee.

Her remarks regarding the causes of femicides in the country have sparked public anger, with many citizens calling for the rejection of her nomination.

During the vetting session, Cheptumo attributed the rising cases of femicide especially among university students to economic dependency and lack of education.

She implied that some young women put themselves at risk in pursuit of financial support, a comment widely interpreted as blaming victims for their own deaths.

Her remarks were met with sharp rebuke both from lawmakers and the public. Speaker Moses Wetang’ula challenged her views, pointing out that many victims were university students, suggesting that education alone doesn’t protect women from gender-based violence.

Civil society groups, legal professionals, and women’s rights organizations have condemned Cheptumo’s stance. The Law Society of Kenya president, Faith Odhiambo, described the comments as “deeply irresponsible,” emphasizing that many victims were targeted not because of money, but for rejecting romantic advances or within domestic relationships.

Activists argue that Cheptumo’s position reflects a troubling disregard for the root causes of gender-based violence, such as power imbalances, toxic masculinity, and societal impunity for perpetrators. They fear that having a leader with such views could reverse progress made in protecting women and marginalized communities.

“This isn’t just about a poor choice of words, it’s about a dangerous mindset,” said one advisor on gender policy, who chose to remain anonymous.

As pressure mounts, Members of Parliament are being urged to reject her appointment, with many Kenyans insisting that leadership in the Gender Ministry must come from someone who demonstrates deep understanding and empathy toward the realities of women and girls in the country.