The National Police Service (NPS) has announced the arrest of three suspects linked to the tragic death of 17-year-old Gaala Adan in Wajir County.
The teenager was allegedly killed after refusing to marry a 55-year-old man, an incident that has sparked outrage across the country.
In a statement on Saturday, March 29, the NPS confirmed the arrests, saying the 55-year-old man is among the arrested individuals.
"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 read.
The NPS expressed its sorrow over the incident, and urged Kenyan communities to desist from such cultural practices.
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"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," the statement added.
The three suspects, whose identities have not yet been disclosed, are expected to face charges soon.
"The three suspects are expected to appear in court imminently after being processed," the statement further read.
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.
"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.
