Stop the web of killings
The digital technology that eases communication and the unregulated short-term rental facilities are proving to be a deadly combination. They have been cited in the sharp increase in femicide, especially in major towns.
There is evidence of a growing new form of violence that often targets women. It starts online as the victims are lured to the rental places with remarkable precision.
Behind these tragedies that have stunned the country lie a lethal mix of digital anonymity, lax rental oversight and predators, who brutally exploit the victims’ vulnerability with chilling efficiency.
Early this year, the brutal murders of two women in short-term rental apartments in Nairobi sparked public outrage, with human rights groups decrying what they termed a “femicide crisis”.
Unregulated short-term rentals and anonymous dating apps remain a deadly trap. Government crackdowns and dating app safety features have failed to stop the slaughter
What should be temporary sanctuaries for travellers, couples, or friends have instead become the venues for the most disturbing killings.
Casual hook-ups on dating sites and weak oversight turn into crime scenes. Some are booked through global platforms such as Airbnb, while others are arranged locally.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has flagged dating apps as a new criminal frontier, where offenders hide behind fake profiles, multiple phone numbers, and pseudonyms, making their tracking a logistical nightmare.
Property owners say they cannot vet strangers with the rigour of law enforcement.
As the country confronts the digitally fuelled violence, safety advocates want stronger identity verification on dating platforms, mandatory emergency contacts and a regulated short-term rental registry. These reforms remain elusive as killings persist.
The authorities should tighten security and surveillance to prevent deaths in the short-stay rentals.
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