A Nairobi woman who reported being physically attacked by her neighbour at Dandora in Nairobi county found herself behind bars after going to the police post to record her statement.
While seeking help, she noted that the woman responsible for her injuries, whom she had accused, walked free.
According to her, the alleged assault happened on Friday, July 11, and she wasted no time reporting it to the Dandora police post, where she was issued an OB number and a P3 form to document her injuries.
Her condition at the time of reporting was serious, as she described spitting blood and experiencing numbness on the left side of her body.
While in custody, she claims she has not been allowed to access medication.
Dandora woman placed in cell, alleged attacker at home
Matters took a turn when the neighbour she accused reportedly went to the same police post on the same day and filed a counter-complaint, claiming it was she who had been assaulted.
The woman in custody said her neighbour presented no visible injuries, while her own wounds were evident. Furthermore, when she was called back to write her statement, officers placed her under arrest.
Distressed and in pain, she appealed for legal assistance, saying the person who had attacked her had since returned home.
“Yeye hajashikwa (she has not been arrested),” she said, expressing disbelief that the alleged aggressor remained free despite her being the one who reported the incident first.
Neighbour Alleges Tribal and Financial Discrimination
A neighbour who witnessed the events in Dandora came forward with a troubling account, alleging that the woman’s treatment at the police post had less to do with the evidence and more to do with her background.
The neighbour described the alleged aggressor as a significantly larger individual, saying the physical mismatch made it implausible that the woman in custody could have initiated the attack. “This case of Dandora, I am a neighbour to them.
Kindly help this lady to get justice. She was the one assaulted, and you can even see the physical injuries, but ju ya ukabila Dandora police post na pesa sahi yeye ndio amewekwa ndani. So unfair,” the neighbour wrote in an appeal shared online.
The neighbour said the woman was held because of her tribe and lack of financial resources, raising questions about equal access to justice at the community level. Members of the public have since been urged to assist the woman in finding legal representation.
