The Somali community in Eastleigh, Nairobi, is grappling with shock and grief following the horrific murders of three women from the same family. The bodies of Waris Daud, her 22-year-old daughter Amina Abdirashid, and her 12-year-old niece Nuseiba Dahir were found in different locations across Kenya on Monday, after they went missing the night before.
The incident has drawn national attention, with leaders and human rights groups condemning the brutal killings and expressing concerns over the rise in femicide cases in Kenya.
The three women were last seen on Sunday night after Waris left their home to seek medical treatment. When she failed to return, her daughter Amina and niece Nuseiba went out to search for her, marking the last time they were seen by family members.
The discovery of their bodies in separate locations has left the Somali community in disbelief. Waris was found in Machakos, 60 kilometers from Nairobi, with her body showing signs of torture. Amina’s body was located in Parklands, while the youngest victim, Nuseiba, was discovered in Bahati, Nairobi.
Investigations have been launched by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), with detectives reviewing CCTV footage that captured Amina and Nuseiba boarding a taxi on the night of their disappearance. Nairobi County Police Chief Adamson Bungei stated that authorities are pursuing various leads but have yet to establish a motive. Police believe the women were killed elsewhere, and their bodies were later dumped in different locations.
Grieving family members gathered at Nairobi City Mortuary to identify the victims. “We don’t know why this happened. We need answers and justice,” said Sumeya Noor, a close relative.
These murders are the latest in a disturbing trend of violence against women. In the past three days alone, six women have been found murdered under mysterious circumstances across Kenya, sparking widespread calls for action from political figures and human rights organizations.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna expressed the growing sense of insecurity, stating, “With this recent wave of abductions and killings, it’s becoming hard to feel safe anywhere in Kenya.” Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan, who represents Eastleigh, described the killings as a devastating loss for the community, calling for swift action from law enforcement to ensure justice.
Human rights organizations, including the Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya), have condemned the killings and called for immediate government intervention. “The situation is dire—women and girls in Kenya are under threat. The government must step up to protect us,” said FIDA Chairperson Christine Kungu.
FIDA has urged the Inspector General of Police to prioritize the safety of women and girls and ensure thorough investigations and prosecutions of those responsible for such crimes.
As the Somali community in Eastleigh remains on edge, concerns are growing that these killings could be part of a broader pattern of violence targeting Somalis in Kenya. This fear has been further fueled by the recent abduction and murder of Somali-Kenyan politician Yusuf Hussein Ahmed, whose body was found 40 days after his disappearance.
Human rights groups have raised alarms over the increase in forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Kenya, which disproportionately impact marginalized communities like the Somali diaspora.
As the families of Waris, Amina, and Nuseiba prepare to lay their loved ones to rest according to Islamic customs, they continue to demand justice and protection, echoing the words of Senator Sifuna: “Nobody is safe until we are all safe.”