Four Somali women have been charged with the murder of a 14-year-old Kenyan girl in Nairobi's Eastleigh Estate, according to police investigations. The suspects, including the victim's 28-year-old aunt Nathifa Mohamed, had falsely claimed the girl was an orphan.
Investigations revealed the girl's mother was alive but suffering from mental illness, prompting authorities to trace family members. A police autopsy conducted on Tuesday found the girl died from blunt force trauma, with injuries to her head and body.
The victim's mother and grandmother arrived in Nairobi on Tuesday, following the girl's burial the previous day under Muslim traditions. Her father, based in Ethiopia, is expected to join them soon.
Policewomen intercepted the suspects at South C Mosque on Sunday morning as they attempted to proceed with burial rites. The body was taken to City Mortuary for postmortem examination, leading to the arrest of Nathifa Mohamed on the same day.
Police confirmed they received public reports of the girl's suspicious death and have charged the suspects. A preliminary investigation identified the aunt as the primary suspect, with other accomplices arrested later.
Neighbors and law enforcement reported the decomposing body had been cleaned and prepared for burial. Human rights activist Florence Kanyua noted bloodstains on the victim's clothing.
The aunt was arraigned on Monday and detained for 14 days pending further inquiry. Additional suspects were arrested on Monday and appeared in court on Tuesday, with the judge granting an 11-day detention period for the group.
