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After two years of outrage following certain high-profile murder cases, 2024 alone recorded 79% increase in femicides and more than 170 deaths in Kenya.
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Short-term rental government regulations requiring I.D. checks & licenses to be completed are in place but are not being enforced.
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The anonymous nature of dating applications combined with the lack of regulation on Airbnb type lodging options have created a very attractive environment for predators.
A swipe right on Tinder. A few messages on WhatsApp. A location pin dropped for a Roysambu apartment. This is how it starts. For a growing number of Kenyan women, this modern romance ritual ends with a body bag instead of a date.
The cruel murders of Rita Waeni and Starlet Wahu in early 2024 sparked national fury. The government promised action. Activists have declared a femicide emergency in Kenya, yet as the end of 2025 approaches, the bodies continue to accumulate. The combination of dating apps and short-term rentals has become the most dangerous combination for women in Kenya.
The Perfect Hunting Ground
The pattern is chillingly consistent. Predators create fake profiles on Tinder, Tagged, or Instagram. They build trust through carefully crafted messages. As the online conversation becomes an offline meeting, the possibilities for locations become almost infinite; however, most meetings take place at a budget Airbnb in Nairobi’s middle-class neighborhoods.
Typically, these properties function similarly to a ghost house. The keys are kept in a lockbox system, which allows management to easily keep track of the keys and the associated properties. Security guards tend to turn the other cheek if approached with a small bribe; therefore, it is common for there to be no reception desks, no CCTV log system, and no paper trail.
In addition to the lack of record-keeping, short-term rentals provide anonymity for guests, which can pose as a benefit. In comparison, the typical security protocols in a traditional hotel provide protection for guests.
“The killer relies on two things: your desire for connection and the landlord’s desire for profit,” explains Njeri Migwi, co-founder of Usikimye, a movement combating gender-centered violence. “The moment that door locks, you’re trapped in a soundproof space with a stranger. Nobody can tell you’re there.”
Data from Odipo Dev and Africa Uncensored reported that “the number of female homicide victims in Kenya hit peak records in 2024 – with more than 170 cases recorded, a 79% spike from 2023. Q1 of 2025 has, so far, recorded approximately 129 victims of female homicide.
Regulations Existing Beyond Paper
Although the Ministry of Interior initiated substantial changes to regulations in January 2024, requiring all short-term rental businesses to register with the Tourism Regulatory Authority. It further required security guards at short-term rental businesses to keep a record of all identification of visitors entering the short-term rental. These regulations remain largely non-existent due to a lack of enforcement despite being clear and urgent.
Roughly 2 years later, the reality is disturbingly different. Streamline News commenced a spot check across three estates in Nairobi, which revealed the following systematic failure:
- 4 out of 20 short-stay units in South B and Kasarani displayed valid TRA licenses.
- In 15 properties, reporters accessed units without producing ID by simply waving at guards or mentioning house numbers.
- Hundreds of social media listings bypass official platforms completely, collecting M-PESA payments as a workaround for digital footprints.
The TRA introduced a global classification protocol in February 2025 to map these facilities. But effective enforcement remains practically unavailable. Regulations hold nothing against the dark corridors of an apartment block at 2:00 AM.
The rental market has evolved into what activists call a “ghost market.” Landlords prioritize quick cash over customer verification. Many properties operate without registering on platforms like Airbnb. They advertise through Facebook groups and WhatsApp, taking mobile money payments that leave minimal trace. This ecosystem of anonymity mirrors the broader digital threats Kenya faces, which authorities have identified as extending to the darkest corners of the internet.
Justice Moving at a Glacial Pace
For families of victims, the pain compounds daily. The hearing for Starlet Wahu’s murder still drags through the courts, stalled by adjournments as well as witness delays. Rita Waeni’s family, whose daughter’s shattered body was spotted in a Roysambu rental, has openly expressed exasperation that their case appears cold.
These high-profile cases represent just the visible tip. Countless other families mourn in silence as their daughters’ murders fade from headlines without resolution.
“We’re counting the number of women (the homicide count) and not the number of murder convictions,” Senior Analyst Femicide Count Kenya stated. “When a case fades out of the news cycle, it sends a message to people who commit these crimes: that you can get away with killing women.”
The victims span all ages. A 15-year-old girl was found murdered in Landi Mawe this past March; University students, Young professionals building careers, the list can continue. This crisis uncovers uncomfortable truths regarding our computerized era.
The gig economy democratized travel and dating. It also stripped away traditional safety nets. The same privacy that makes these platforms popular or useful to the users also provides predators with a great deal of advantages or means to operate—a global pattern where trusted apps are weaponized, as seen in cases from the US to Kenya.
While the government does not strongly enforce the laws they have established, by providing accountability for criminals, more women will be put at risk until the same booking platforms begin taking responsibility for posting about safety related to their listings.
