By Violet Auma || violetmedia8@gmail.com
A teenage pregnancy dispute in Navakholo has taken a tragic turn after a 19-year-old form four student allegedly murdered his 16-year-old girlfriend, a form two student who was four months pregnant.
The brutal killing, which occurred in Lutaso village, has not only left a family in mourning but also sparked outrage, leading to violent retaliatory attacks and heightened security in the area.
Residents of Lutaso woke up to horror on Tuesday morning when they discovered the lifeless body of the teenage girl dumped by the roadside, just meters from her home.
Witnesses describe a gruesome scene her body bore deep machete wounds on the head and neck, a sign of a violent and merciless attack.
“I received a call informing me that my daughter’s body was lying just a few meters from our home. I rushed to the scene and found deep machete wounds on her head and neck,” said Ibrahim, the grieving father.
“I took my granddaughter to Namirama Health Centre after she came home from school feeling unwell. The medical report confirmed she was pregnant, and she revealed the father of the child. We suspect the boy responsible for the pregnancy is the one who murdered her,” said Robert Wesamba, the grieving grandfather.
“I had summoned his father, and he promised to talk to his son and get back to me. Before I could receive any feedback, my granddaughter was killed,” Wesamba added.
Police reports indicate that the girl had been missing since the previous evening, and her family had spent the night frantically searching for her. The morning discovery confirmed their worst fears.
According to investigators, the suspect allegedly lured the girl out of the kitchen, where she had been sleeping with her siblings, and attacked her in a secluded area.
The motive? Authorities suspect the girl’s refusal to terminate her pregnancy and her family’s threat to take legal action against the suspect pushed him to commit the heinous act.
Navakholo police commander Christopher Kirui, who confirmed the arrest of the suspect, said detectives are investigating the full circumstances surrounding the murder.
“We are treating this as a serious crime. Investigations are ongoing, and we will ensure justice is served,” said Kirui.
News of the murder spread rapidly, igniting outrage among villagers.
Enraged residents stormed the suspect’s homestead, setting ablaze six houses belonging to his family.
The attacks, seen as a form of vigilante justice, were meant to punish the suspect’s relatives, whom the community blamed for raising a “killer.”
“We couldn’t sit back and watch this kind of evil happen in our village. That girl was part of us. She did not deserve to die in such a cruel manner,” said one villager who participated in the destruction.
Security forces were swiftly deployed to quell the unrest, but the tension in Lutaso remains palpable.
Authorities have warned residents against taking the law into their own hands and urged calm as investigations proceed.
“We understand the pain and anger the community is feeling, but retaliatory violence will only cause more suffering. Let the law take its course,” Kirui stated.
Amidst the grief and rising tensions, local elders have added a cultural dimension to the tragedy.
They now insist that all individuals who interacted with the suspect after he committed the murder including fellow students in his class must undergo cleansing rituals to rid them of misfortune and prevent further tragedy.
According to elder Mzee Abubakar Nandikobe, failure to conduct the rituals could bring a curse upon the village.
“In our culture, when someone commits such a grave crime, those who interacted with him afterwards become spiritually contaminated. If we do not cleanse them, bad luck, sickness, or even death could follow,” said Abubakar.
Among those expected to undergo the rituals are the suspect’s family members, teachers and classmates together with their family members.
While some residents support the call for rituals, others believe it is an outdated practice that shifts focus from the real issue the need for justice for the slain girl.
“We should be talking about how to end teenage pregnancies and gender-based violence, not performing rituals,” said a local youth leader.
The case has reignited discussions about the rising cases of teenage pregnancies and gender-based violence in Kenya, particularly in rural areas where young girls often find themselves vulnerable.
The victim’s family is inconsolable. Her mother, tears streaming down her face, described her daughter as a bright and ambitious girl who had hoped to complete her education and build a better future.
“She was just a child. She had dreams. Now she is gone, and we don’t even understand why she had to die like this,” said the grieving mother.
Neighbors who knew the victim say she was a polite and hardworking girl who rarely got into trouble.
Following the retaliatory attacks, the suspect’s family has gone into hiding, fearing for their lives.
Attempts to reach them for comment have been unsuccessful, but neighbors say they never expected such an incident from one of their own.
“We lived with them peacefully. No one thought this boy was capable of such a thing,” said a neighbor.
The suspect remains in police custody as detectives finalize investigations before taking him to court. Authorities have assured the public that justice will be served.
The human rights activists in Kakamega led by Phillis Lumidi have condemned the murder, calling for a thorough investigation and accountability for all involved.
“This is not just a case of teenage pregnancy, it is about gender-based violence, children’s rights, and community responsibility. We must do more to protect young girls from such tragedies,” said Lumidi.
As investigations unfold, many hope that this case will not only bring justice for the victim but also serve as a turning point in addressing the complex issues of teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence, and cultural beliefs surrounding crime and punishment.
