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Somali families in Eastleigh reeling as Kenya struggles with unsolved femicides


Thursday October 24, 2024


Women in Eastleigh, Nairobi, gather to pay tribute to the victims of recent unsolved femicides in Kenya. The Somali community stands united in grief and calls for justice. Credit: Yusuf Hassan MP Kamukunji / X (Twitter)

NAIROBI, Kenya (HOL) — The Somali community in Eastleigh, Nairobi, is reeling after the brutal murders of three women from the same family, whose bodies were discovered on Monday in separate locations across Kenya. The victims—Waris Daud, her 22-year-old daughter Amina Abdirashid, and her 12-year-old niece Nuseiba Dahir—had gone missing from their home in Eastleigh the night before.

The killings have drawn national attention, with leaders and human rights groups condemning the violence and raising concerns about the rising wave of femicide in Kenya.

The three women went missing on Sunday night after Waris left home to visit a hospital due to illness. When she didn't return, her daughter Amina and niece Nuseiba left to search for her. That was the last time the family heard from them.

The bodies were found in different locations: Waris's body, showing signs of extreme violence and mutilation, was discovered in Machakos, 60 kilometres from Nairobi; Amina's body was located in the Parklands area; and the youngest victim, Nuseiba, was found in Bahati, Nairobi. The murders have shocked the Somali community and sparked national outrage.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has launched an investigation, with detectives reviewing CCTV footage that captured Amina and Nuseiba entering a taxi on the night they disappeared. Nairobi County Police Chief Adamson Bungei said, "We are following several leads and questioning witnesses, but at this point, we do not have a clear motive." The police believe the women were killed elsewhere before their bodies were dumped in different locations.

The victims' families, overwhelmed by grief, gathered at Nairobi City Mortuary to identify their loved ones. Their grief was palpable. "We don't understand why this happened. We need justice and protection," said Sumeya Noor, a relative of the victims. 

The brutal nature of the murders has raised concerns about a rising wave of femicide in Kenya. In the past three days, six women have been found murdered across the country under mysterious circumstances, prompting calls for action from political leaders and human rights organizations.

Political leaders have joined the calls for swift justice. Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna said, "Given the recent wave of abductions and killings, it's hard to believe anyone feels safe in our country right now." Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan, who represents Eastleigh, described the murders as a tragedy for the entire community. "The Eastleigh community is devastated by this tragedy. We need answers and swift action from the authorities to ensure our people are safe."

Human rights organizations, including the Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya), have condemned the killings and expressed alarm over the rising violence against women. "Enough is enough! Women and girls in Kenya are facing a severe threat to their safety. The government must act now to protect us," said Christine Kungu, Chairperson of FIDA.

FIDA has called for increased vigilance and the deployment of resources to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of violence against women. They are urging the Inspector General of Police to publicly reassure women and girls that their safety is a priority.

The Somali community in Eastleigh, a large diaspora population, remains fearful as investigations continue. Many are concerned that the murders are part of a larger pattern of targeted violence against Somalis in Kenya. The recent abduction and murder of Somali-Kenyan politician Yusuf Hussein Ahmed, who was found dead 40 days after his disappearance in September, has only heightened these fears. 

"We've seen cases like this before, and nothing seems to change," said Noor. "We just want justice and protection for our families."

Ahmed's murder, believed to involve state actors, has heightened fears that Somali politicians and community members are being targeted.

Kenya has seen a rise in forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in recent years, many of which have disproportionately affected communities like the Somalis. Human rights groups have consistently condemned this trend, calling for accountability and protection.

As the family of Waris, Amina, and Nuseiba prepares to lay their loved ones to rest according to Islamic tradition, they continue to demand justice. The Somali community is left to mourn, their grief deepened by the uncertainty of their safety in a country where, as Sifuna stated, "nobody is safe until all of us are safe."


 



 





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