The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) is shocked and angered by the horrific murder of 17-year-old Gaala Aden Abdi, a refugee from Dadaab Refugee Camp, whose life was tragically taken on March 22, 2025, in Ademasajida, Wajir County. The KNCHR strongly condemns this heinous crime and demands action to be taken against the perpetrators of this brutal act. The Commission condoles with Gaala’s family in this difficult time of grief.
Gaala’s last moments were filled with terror, as she pleaded for help in her own voice recording to her mother, detailing the abuse she endured for refusing a forced marriage to a 55-year-old man. Her body was discovered charred beyond recognition, suffering from severe burns, a spinal injury, and numerous stab wounds, a chilling indication of the brutal violence she endured.
This incident goes beyond mere murder, it was the worst form of torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and constitutes femicide. This serves as a stark reminder of the lethal repercussions of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and the ongoing prevalence of harmful cultural practices in Kenya. The Commission demands an end to all forms of sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) including child marriages and forced marriages.
Kenya has an obligation to protect and promote the rights of refugees and asylum seekers within its territory; an obligation that it has carried out well over the years, acting as a safe haven for them. This act on Gaala goes against the spirit of integration and inclusion of refugees and asylum seekers as envisaged in the proposed Shirika Plan.
Further the Commission calls upon:
1. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and National Police Service (NPS) to expedite investigations and ensure all perpetrators of this heinous act face the full force of the law. They should also strengthen protection for victims of forced marriages and SGBV particularly within the refugee camps.
2. The County Government of Wajir and National Government to enforce laws against child marriage and SGBV, ensuring local authorities actively combat these practices. They must also provide psychosocial and legal support to Gaala’s family and survivors of similar atrocities.
3. The Department of Refugees Services (DRS) should prioritize the implementation of the Refugee Act 2021, which establishes a legal framework for recognizing, protecting, and managing refugees in Kenya with special focus on those with inter-sectional vulnerabilities, while taking into consideration the domestic legal frameworks.
4. The Civil Society and the Public to break the silence and report cases of forced marriages and SGBV to authorities. Article 26 of the Constitution guarantees every Kenyan the right to life. Gaala’s murder is a violation of this fundamental right and a failure of our collective duty to protect the most vulnerable.
Article 29 guarantees every person the right to freedom and security which includes the right not to be subjected to any form of violence, from either public or private sources, subjected to torture, cruel inhuman and degrading manner.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) is an Independent National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) established under Article 59 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 and the KNCHR Act, 2011. The Commission’s mandate is the promotion and protection of human rights in Kenya.
Haki Kwa Wote Kila Wakati!
Dr. Raymond Nyeris, Ph.D,
Vice Chairperson, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).