On the fateful day of the 2007 presidential election, Joyce Chepkemoi's life took a devastating turn. Her husband was brutally killed in front of her, and she was subjected to unimaginable torture, including having her face burned and being left for dead in a morgue.
Joyce's story is a testament to the horrors of the 2007/08 post-election violence in Kenya.
As she recounts her ordeal, Joyce shares the details of that fateful day. 'I was eight months pregnant, and my husband and I were at home with our two daughters when armed men attacked us at 11 am.' The attackers, who had come to finish them off, chopped off her husband's fingers, manhood, and slit his throat as she watched in horror.
After being stabbed multiple times and having her face burned, Joyce was left for dead in a morgue for three days. Miraculously, she gained consciousness and was rescued by doctors who were standing outside the hospital. She was admitted to St Joseph's Hospital, where she gave birth to a bouncing baby boy named Immanuel.
However, Joyce's healing journey was far from easy. She was abandoned by her family and friends, and her children refused to associate with her. It took her over a year to regain her full senses and be discharged from the hospital. Despite the challenges she faced, Joyce remained hopeful and prayed for a better future.
Today, Joyce is a survivor of one of the darkest periods in Kenya's history. Her story serves as a reminder of the importance of healing, forgiveness, and resilience in the face of unimaginable trauma.
