JUSTICE FOR OUR LITTLE MARY

Christine Kamene has contemplated suicide several times since December 10th, 2020. A single mother of three girls, aged 5, 10 and 13, Christine works as a labourer, washing people’s clothes and gardening to feed them. She had left ‘Mary’ (not her real name,) the 10-year old at a St, Catherine Orthodox Childcare Center, where her other 5-year old attends under the care of the ‘Christian family’ that owns and lives in the property so they could help her to take her mid-day dose. Little did she know she had left her sick girl to a hyena, as the ‘78-year old owner and ‘elder’ of the Orthodox Church sodomized her 10-year old, beat her up and threatened to behead her if she told anyone it was him. The little girl was allegedly told her to say she was raped by some people outside the compound, a version she maintained for two days, as her mother sought for treatment in several facilities for her badly torn private organs. A Good Samaritan assisted her with fare to Nairobi Women Hospital where ‘Mary’ continued with treatment for the next 6 months.

In the meantime, when ‘Mary’ finally revealed who had sodomized her, by the name David Njoroge Karanja, (whom she calls ‘Guka’ i.e., grandfather) and the matter was reported at Githurai Mwiki Police Station, the suspect was locked up over the weekend (OB. No 52/15/12/2020). That evening, Christine was visited by the son of the suspect and his wife and 3 other ‘senior church elders’ who warned her against ‘tainting’ the name of the ‘highly respected elder’ as there would be consequences. The visit worsened the state of the traumatized girl who crawled under the bed in pain having lost control of both urine and feaces. Although all this happened on 15th December, 2021, the matter was mentioned in January, 2021 and a different ‘young’ man produced in court to take plea. It was only after protest by Christine to the judge that the ‘real’ old man was brought. Even then, the suspect was released on ksh, 200, 000 bond (Case No 52/15/12/2020).

The son of the perpetrator went again 0n 25th January at 1310 hours to warn her further that he will kill her himself if his father went to prison. Although Christine reported the threats at the police station (OB No 26/25/01/21), no action was taken. When the case was mentioned in 2nd March, 2021, Christine and her daughter allege to have been verbally warned by the brother of the accused- that he wouldn’t hesitate to harm them to protect his brother. The case has never began and there is hostility even from the investigating officer, to a point that the pant ‘Mary’ was wearing during the incident has never been received as an exhibit, even though the doctor had stapled and labeled it after examining the girl.

Consequent to the above events;

· Christine was so traumatized by the sight of the damage to her daughter’s privates, that she was never able to touch or wash her-it took a close friend to wash and nurse her damaged section.

· ‘Mary’ stopped going to school as she still has problem controlling her urine.

· ‘Mary’ is traumatized and clings to her mother so much so that at times, Christine is unable to go for her odd jobs.

· The 13-year old sister had refused to sit for her KCPE saying she doesn’t need to go to school if her sister is unable to and failed to get justice

· Christine and her daughters lived in the neighborhood of the accused and felt insecure but she had no money to move out or even pay rent where they lived.

· The fact that neighbors see the suspect free gossip of her having ‘sold’ her daughter for ksh.200,000

· Failure of the case to take off, inability to ‘work’ to feed her family, her children dropping out of school and the security issue brings despair that makes her feel suicidal.

Christine felt disregarded, helpless and alone until some trustees of Hidden Voices Kenya (HVK) stepped in and offered emergency practical assistance. From personal donations, HVK was able relocate the family and enroll the children to a new school to resume their education, paid an appearance fee to a lawyer to appear for them to making sure the criminal case is not corruptly thrown out.

As HVK continues to offer emotional support to ease the mental pressure on Christine and her children, the family requires financial assistance to get them back on their feet and pay for a lawyer to keep watch until the perpetrators are brought to justice. People of good will are free to offer any form of help be it in money (through the HVK Pay bill no 5954145, or the mother’s number on request), or in kind including free legal representation.