By Betty Luke
Pastoralists women from Kargi in Marsabit County have faulted the government over failure to ensure their right to life, following the brutal murder of a 60-year-old woman, identified as Magret Esikonte, over claims of witchcraft.
The women said it was unfortunate that two weeks after the killing, no action had been taken to ensure justice to the victim.
“We wonder whether we live in a different country. The perpetrators are known, they are still within us. Why have they not been arrested?” Erejereiya Sasa, a relative to the victim, posed.
Three people, including a woman, are said to have sought services of a medicine man over alleged family misfortunes.
This is after the woman lost her husband in a road accident and her son sustained injuries years ago, a relative who did not want to be named intimated.
“She wanted to know if there was someone behind the predicaments,”
The medicine man is said to have informed the three that ‘some women’ were responsible, and only gave them directions to their manyattas, a few meters from Kargi town.
The three reportedly instructed three other Morans to attack the two women.
On February 18, 2024 at around 1am, the three young men invaded into Ms Esimonte’s home while asleep and smoked her out of the grass thatched Manyatta.
The criminals are said to have later proceeded to a neighboring homestead belonging to Ms Wahareua Sahado who had also been identified by the medicine man.
Due to the harsh weather condition in the area, Ms Sahado was caught up sleeping outside and the Morans descended on her with sticks leaving her nursing serious wounds.
“They started hitting me on the head, legs and later on my private parts,” she told The Press Point.
The two were rescued by well wishes and taken to a nearby dispensary where Ms Esimonte succumbed to injuries while receiving treatment
Deceased’ 78-year-old widower narrated how he learnt of his wife’s killing, saying he had been robbed of a longtime friend who had been his support system.
“I have never laid hands on my wife for the many years we had been married. She was a friend to the community and harmless. She did no wrong to deserve death. I wonder why someone just decided to take her life away,”lamented Mr Abdi Hallo.
A 46-year-old Ejerereiya Sasa, sister to the deceased, eulogized her sister as a selfless woman who nurtured them for years after the death of their mother.
She said it was sad that her life was cut short by criminals who continue to walk scot-free around the village.
“She was our only hope. She went out of her way to support us whenever we needed help. Her death is a huge blow to us,” she said amid tears.
Area Chief Aldere Mohammed assured that he would support the family’s quest for justice.
“I have no problem with any particular clan as long as they observe law and order. You do not kill someone and expect I will protect you,” he noted.
Human rights crusaders and the residents are now calling for speedy investigations into the killing and the arrest of the perpetrators who are well known within the community.
Defenders Coalition Executive Director Kamau Ngugi termed the incident as inhumane and barbaric, expressing fears that many more women would lose their lives for being labelled as witches should the State fail to address the concerns.
“The government should stop normalizing the death of rural women, who die in the hands of criminals just because they are women. We call for immediate action against the perpetrators and an assurance to those who survived and other women of their safety,” said Mr Kamau after visiting the bereaved family.
The official lamented surge in femicide cases across the country, blaming the Inspector General of Police for laxity in arresting the criminals involved.
“This case demonstrates that the IG lacks the integrity of speaking against the senseless killing of women in this country. It is time that the Director of Criminal Investigation (DCI) moves with speed and arrests the criminals involved,” he noted.
He was accompanied by the Kenya Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) regional coordinator Thuo Kinyanjui and the Pastoralists People’s Initiative executive Director Magret Super.
Terming the killing as an infringement to right to life, Mr Thuo assured that the commission would get to the bottom of the issue and ensure justice prevails.
“A mother is the backbone to every society and staging an attack to a mother shows that the society has lost focus,” he said.
Ms Magret vowed to continue fighting for the rights of women to ensure they are protected from all forms of violations
“We cannot continue losing innocent women just because they are women. This has to stop,” she said.
