Kenyans have expressed anger following the horrific murder of 17-year-old Gaala Aden Abdi who was beaten, stabbed and burned after refusing a forced marriage to a 55-year-old man.
Gaala, originally from Dagale Refugee Camp, was taken 150 kilometers against her will to a secluded village in Wajir, where she was coerced into marrying a man identified as Mohamed Kassim.
From the moment she arrived, Gaala resisted the union, a decision that led to relentless abuse from the 55-year-old man
"24 hours of being beaten, this is not a man. I was betrayed to marry this herder, why is my face swollen? I don’t have a man here. Every sunset when I get to that house, I get beaten," she said in a voice recording to her parents.
On Saturday, March 22, Gaala made a desperate final call to her parents, warning of escalating violence.
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"Late night when people were coming from night prayers, she called saying, ‘they have started knifing me, and my phone is being taken away'. At around 2AM, I received the devastating news that my daughter had been butchered, placed on a mattress with a bag and set on fire," her mother, Amina Abdi Nur recounted.
Medical documents paint a grim picture of Gaala’s final moments.
Medics reported 100-degree burns covering her body and a severe spinal column injury, evidence of the savage brutality she endured.
The teenager’s death, confirmed less than a month after her forced marriage began, has left her family and community reeling.
Police have arrested the main suspect, identified as Mohamed Kassim, believed to be the husband imposed on Gaala.
Kenyans on social media were quick to call out Kassim's actions calling for Justice to be served for the family of Gaala.
"This is real horror! Justice must be served. Now," an X user, Njeri Rugene, said.
On his part, another user, Das Don wrote, "This is archaic and barbaric. May almighty God comfort the bereaved family. May the departed soul rest in eternal peace."
