Police Arrest 3 Linked To Murder Of Minor Who Refused To Marry 55-Year-Old

The National Police Service (NPS) has confirmed the arrest of three suspects linked to the brutal murder of Gaal Adan Abdi, a 17-year-old refugee girl who was forcibly married to a 55-year-old man.

In a statement, the NPS spokesperson, Muchiri Nyaga revealed that among the trio arrested included the alleged husband to the minor whom Gaal was expected to be married to but declined.

This followed a tip-off from residents of Wajir County, where the incident reportedly occurred. 

"The National Police Service wishes to confirm to the public that following the tragic death of 17-year-old "child bride", the police were able to move with speed and apprehend three main suspects amongst them the purported "husband" to the child," the statement released on Saturday, March 29 read in part.

Police strongly condemned the incident in which the victim was burned beyond recognition for allegedly refusing to marry a 55-year-old man, vowing to thoroughly investigate the matter. They also urged Kenyan communities to abandon harmful cultural practices like child marriage.

"While investigators have to be allowed without prejudice to piece together all the circumstances that led to this most tragic death, NPS deeply regrets this death and condoles with the family of the victim while asking the wider Kenyan community to desist from harmful cultural practices while letting children be just that: children," added NPS.

The three suspects are expected to appear in court imminently after being processed.

The incident sparked widespread criticism across the country, with organizations such as the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) condemning the brutal killing of Gaala, who was burned beyond recognition in Wajir County for resisting a forced marriage to the 55-year-old man.

The gender commission called for a prompt and thorough investigation, describing the murder as a blatant violation of the teenager’s rights, including those of children, women, and refugees.

Many Kenyans also took to social media, creating hashtags and protesting in the streets to demand justice. This occurred amid a surge in femicide cases nationwide, prompting the Cabinet to approve the formation of a body to address the rising violence against women.

Before her death, Adan left several voicemails for her mother, tearfully describing the daily physical abuse she endured at the hands of her husband and his relatives.

She expressed her desire to leave the marriage, saying she would rather return to the refugee camp where she had previously lived.

Shortly before her death, Adan told her mother that her abusers were taking away her phone, preventing her from communicating. Later, her mother received a devastating call informing her that there was no need to visit her daughter anymore—she had been murdered.