The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Related Articles
The family of 17-year-old Farida Kadzo is demanding justice following her brutal killing on June 6, in what is being described as another tragic case of femicide in Kenya.
Click here to join our WhatsApp Channel
According to the International Justice Mission (IJM), Kadzo’s murder should not be dismissed as a crime of passion, as some early media reports claimed. IJM says her death highlights deeper issues of power, control, and the systemic failure to protect survivors of violence.
“This is not about a love triangle,” said IJM Mombasa director Aggrey Juma. “It’s about the widespread threat of violence against women and girls in Kenya—particularly among the vulnerable. Farida’s case reflects how poverty, gender inequality, and poor enforcement of protective laws create dangerous conditions for survivors.”
Kadzo’s mother, Mary Mlongo, her grandmother, Kadzo Kazungu, and her aunt, Rose Wambua, joined Juma in a press briefing to share their anguish and call for accountability.
Kadzo had already endured sexual violence at age 13 and was navigating the justice system for support when she was killed. Her aunt recounted that on the night of her death, Kadzo had prepared dinner for the family. Around 8pm, her alleged boyfriend—who had been working at their home as a palm wine tapper for six months—asked to speak with her in private.
“They spoke for nearly an hour,” Wambua recalled. “We called her to eat, but she said she would join us later. We eventually brought food to them. They ate, and Farida returned the dishes to the kitchen.”
Shortly afterward, Kadzo told the family she was heading out to collect her phone from a charging station. About 20 minutes later, screams rang out behind the house. Moments later, a horrifying scene unfolded.
“Farida came running back with a knife lodged in her throat,” Wambua said. “She pulled it out and collapsed at our feet.”
Police arrested the alleged killer on Sunday and arraigned him in court on Monday, where they were granted 10 more days to complete investigations. An autopsy on Kadzo’s body, which is being held at Kilifi County Hospital mortuary, is expected to be conducted on Thursday.
The grieving family said Kadzo, who was in Form Two at the time of her death, leaves behind a nine-month-old baby. They also revealed that a different man had previously been sentenced to two years in prison for defiling her when she was 13.
Juma called for swift action in the case and criticized what he described as the government’s inaction in dealing with femicide.
“More than 150 women have been killed in femicide incidents in Kenya, yet we’ve seen little meaningful action taken,” he said. “It’s being normalized.”
Contextual Overview:
Femicide has become a grim reality for many Kenyan women. According to Africa Data Hub, between January 2016 and December 2023, over 500 women were murdered by their intimate partners. Furthermore, between 39% and 47% of Kenyan women have experienced gender-based violence at some point in their lives.
