TUKO.co.ke journalist Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya

Concerns are mounting over the possibility of a resurgence in femicide cases in the country following a tragic and disturbing discovery made on Friday, March 28.

The lifeless body of a 15-year-old girl was found discarded in Nairobi’s Land Mawe estate, sending shockwaves through the community.

Police officers from the Railways Police Station have since launched investigations into the teenager’s death, which has been described as gruesome and inhumane.

According to preliminary reports, the girl is suspected to have been molested and assaulted before being brutally murdered.

The body was discovered by a street dweller (chokoraa), who stumbled upon the horrific scene. The victim had been placed on a foam mattress and hidden between two iron sheet fences, suggesting an attempt to conceal the crime.

Richard Omari, a resident of Land Mawe who also serves as a doctor, was among the first people to witness the chilling sight. He recounted the extent of the injuries the girl had sustained, describing the brutality inflicted on her.

"I observed severe injuries on her body. She had been beaten on the head, her eyes were gouged, and she had marks of being strangled," Omari stated.

Confirming the incident, Railways Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) Maureen Cherubet noted that initial examinations suggested the possibility of defilement.

"There were visible bruises on her lower abdomen, and we are also investigating the likelihood of assault," Cherubet revealed.

Further examinations suggested that the girl was likely killed elsewhere before her body was dumped in Land Mawe. Omari highlighted peculiar observations that strengthened this theory.

"The mattress she was lying on was not wet, despite the area having received rainfall the previous morning. This suggests that her body was placed there much later," Omari noted.

"Parts of her body that were in contact with the floor had already started turning black, indicating she may have been kept in a different place before being dumped here," he added.

The incident has ignited public outrage, with residents expressing frustration over the government’s perceived inaction in tackling violence against women. Many residents called for urgent intervention to curb the increasing cases of gender-based violence in the area.

Lailah Joy, a resident of Land Mawe, decried the lack of security for women and criticised the government’s slow response to femicide cases.

"There is no security for women in this area. President William Ruto established a committee to address the rising cases of femicide, but we are yet to see any tangible action. Just the other day, we celebrated Women’s Day, yet women continue to be murdered with impunity. What exactly is the committee doing?" she lamented.

The body of the deceased has since been transferred to City Mortuary, where an autopsy will be conducted to ascertain the exact cause of death and whether she was assaulted before being killed.

In January, the president appointed former deputy chief justice Nancy Barasa to chair a 42-member task force focused on tackling femicide and gender-based violence (GBV).

The team was tasked with assessing and reviewing GBV cases across the country and advising the president on necessary interventions.

A gazette notice issued on January 10 underscored the increasing cases of femicide, which Ruto said were causing significant harm to individuals, families, and communities. The task force was expected to propose concrete solutions to curb the crisis.

Source: TUKO.co.ke