The National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) have condemned the murder of 17-year-old Gaala Aden Abdi whose body was burned beyond recognition in Wajir County for resisting a forced marriage to a 55-year-old man.
The incident has sparked outrage and anger in the public sphere, with Kenyans calling for justice for the victim and decisive action against perpetrators.
NGEC, taking note of the circumstances of the death of the minor, says that she was subjected to severe abuse, ultimately killed and her body burnt beyond recognition.
The gender commission called for a thorough and swift investigation into the murder, terming it a flagrant violation of the teenager’s rights which encompass child rights, women’s rights and the rights of refugees.
Further, NGEC pointed out that the deceased was entitled to protection from forced marriage and abuse under Kenyan Law and international conventions.
LSK shared the gender commission’s sentiments, stating that the incident was a violation of the Children’s Act and that it would take up the case to ensure that, once the investigation is complete and charges are filed, justice is served for the life that was lost.
The 17-year-old girl was brutally murdered after she rejected a 55-year-old man to whom she had been forcibly married.
She had been transported at night from the Dagahley refugee camp, 150 kilometers away, to Wara, Ademasajida in Habaswein—a remote village— to meet her husband for the first time.
Her rejection, despite coercion from the man’s relatives, led to her death. However, she reportedly made a call on Saturday night, revealing plans for her death and naming those who orchestrated it.
A postmortem examination report revealed her body had sustained 100% burns, indicating the use of an open flame.
Hashtags such as #JusticeForGaala and #StopFemicide have gone viral on social media, with users demanding justice and swift measures to combat gender-based violence.
The victim’s body has been preserved for further examination, as investigators continue to gather evidence about the events that led to her death.
