Mothers cry for justice, call for ethical reporting

Gender Based Violence survivors and stakeholders match in Kisii town during the launch of 16 days of Gender Activism on Nov 27, 2024. [Sammy Omingo, Standard]

Two women are desperate for justice after their daughters were killed in unclear circumstances.

Lucy Njeri and Rose Nduta are frustrated by the slow wheels of justice and still recall how recklessly they received the tragic news.

The body of Njeri’s only daughter, Seth Nyakio, was discovered in a rented room in Thika’s Biafra estate last month.

“It has not been easy seeking justice for someone who is gone. Life has completely changed. I never imagined I would personally deal with something I’ve been advocating against through women empowerment programmes,” says the Kirinyaga MCA.

She still questions why Nyakio’s friend, who was among the first to discover the body, did not immediately inform her.

Njeri is also troubled by how such stories are often grossly reported without the consent of those close to the victims.

“I received news of my daughter’s death in the most unfortunate way. Her friend, who found her, did not call me immediately. Instead, I got the information from my sister’s child, who had been informed by a lady called Phoebe. Phoebe was a relatively new friend to my daughter, and I had concerns about their friendship,” she says.

Adding to her distress, the body of the 23-year-old was taken to the mortuary without her knowledge, and she is yet to see the OB entry for the case.

She is left with unanswered questions about how and why Nyakio died while rejecting the narrative that young women are always chasing money.

“The place where Nyakio died was not marked as a crime scene. I was told the body was moved to the mortuary at around 11pm. I also found her clothes soaked in water, and when I asked the police why this was done, they gave no clear response. Things were moving very slowly at Thika Police Station, so I escalated the case to the Homicide Department,” she says.

At the Homicide Department, Njeri says the case has received closer attention. The prime suspect, Ken Kimathi Gichunuku alias Sultan from Mikinduri in Meru is still at large.

“I believe the government has the capacity to arrest the suspect and should act swiftly. I urge anyone who locates him to report to the authorities. He has already caused harm to me and could harm someone else. We must work with the police in such cases,” she says.

On November 14, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) stated that Gichunuku has a criminal record, including threats to kill in a case filed on September 25. They described him as dangerous and released his photo to the public, asking for information that could aid his arrest.

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Njeri is concerned that femicide cases are handled like ordinary crimes. She notes that many perpetrators remain at large, perpetuating a vicious cycle.

“There are numerous gaps in handling femicide cases that must be addressed. We also need to involve men in these conversations. We do not know what boys and young men are going through that leads to such drastic actions. They, too, could be facing significant challenges,” she says.

Nduta, still recalls Purity Wangeci’s death just nine days after her daughter resumed her semester at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication student in May 2022.

“She was murdered on a Friday, and by Saturday, the news was all over, but I was unaware. People knew before I did, and while they deliberated on how to inform me, a friend called and asked odd questions, which raised my suspicions.”

Nduta went to social media to find the news all over.

“She was murdered in my birthday month. Birthdays have lost their meaning since,” she says.

Suspects were arrested within 24 hours and their trial began in March 2023. She is concerned about the slow pace of the proceedings, though.

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As the 16 Days of Activism continue, rights groups are calling for a renewed commitment to ending gender-based violence.

Journalists for Human Rights, Amnesty International Kenya and others recently called for ethical reporting on gender violence.

“We are a society increasingly familiar with mass trauma. It is crucial to find new ways to cope,” said Amnesty Executive Director Irungu Houghton.

Houghton called for ethical media reporting, highlighting its potential impact on the public.

“We must address why young men aged 16 to 35 are disproportionately involved in gender-based violence cases. What is happening in our society to make this demographic so violent towards their partners, daughters, and other women?”