The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) have denounced the killing of 17-year-old Gaal Adan Abdi, who was killed for defying a 55-year-old man’s forced marriage.
She had left multiple voicemails to her mother before her tragic death, in which she tragically described the physical abuse she was subjected to every day from her husband and his family. She also stated that she did not want to be in the marriage and would prefer to return to the refugee camp where she had been living.
She informed her mother just before she died that she would not be able to speak for some time because her tormentors were taking away her phone. Her mother was later informed that she would no longer have any reason to visit her daughter. She was unaware that her daughter had been murdered and that her body had been burned.
LSK President Faith Odhiambo called for police officers to act immediately and to arrest those responsible for the horrible conduct after an NTV report.
NGEC also leapt to the minor’s defense, pointing out the blatant violation of the law in the crime’s commission and the rising number of gender-based assault cases in the nation.
The commission demanded that the case be resolved quickly and that everyone responsible for the murder face the worst possible punishment.
Abdi had only been living with him for twenty-three days when her husband, his brother, and other family members allegedly killed her and set her body on fire. Since then, the primary suspect has been taken into custody, and the horrific crime is still being investigated.
Her body, covered in flames, was discovered abandoned outside a rented home. According to an autopsy report, she had sustained serious burns and had damage to her spinal cord.
Human rights advocates have been asking for a stop to the growing number of femicide cases nationwide, and this case follows suit.
On January 10, police officers used tear gas on a march that commemorated the end of the 16 Days of Activism against GBV. The purpose of the gathering was to increase awareness of femicide by bringing together women, human rights advocates, and allies.
