Three men have been formally charged with the brutal murder of 17-year-old refugee Gaala Adan Abdi in a case that has sparked national outrage and drawn attention to deep-rooted gender-based violence in northeastern Kenya.
The accused Mohamed Kasim Tifoy, alleged to have been a rejected suitor, his brother Musa Kasim Tifoy, and local village elder Adan Midagow, were arraigned on Monday and charged with murder under Sections 203 and 204 of the Penal Code.
Gaala, who had reportedly refused to marry the much older Mohamed, was found dead under suspicious circumstances last week in a remote village in Wajir County.
According to preliminary investigations, her refusal to enter a forced marriage is believed to have triggered the fatal attack.
The prosecution claims the three plotted and executed the killing to “punish” Gaala for defying the marriage arrangement a case that rights activists are calling a chilling example of femicide and harmful traditional practices.
“This is not just a murder case. It is an attack on the rights of girls and women in vulnerable communities,” said a spokesperson for a Garissa-based women’s rights organization.
“We are watching closely and demand full justice for Gaala.”
The suspects are scheduled to appear before the Garissa High Court on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, for the official commencement of the trial.
The court has also directed that the three remain in custody pending further investigations.
Gaala Adan Abdi, originally from a refugee camp in Dadaab, was living with relatives in Wajir at the time of her death.
Her case has sparked demonstrations in parts of Wajir and Garissa, with locals calling for an end to child marriage and the enforcement of laws protecting girls and young women.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has vowed to pursue the matter to its conclusion, citing the case as one that could set legal precedent in the fight against gender-based violence in pastoralist communities.
