The city of Nairobi mourned a devastating loss on Saturday as three Somali women, victims of a horrific attack that has gripped Kenya, were laid to rest amid calls for justice and improved security in the Eastleigh neighborhood. Hundreds gathered at Lang’ata Cemetery to bid farewell to Waris Daud, her daughter Amina Abdi Mohammed, and her niece, 13-year-old Nuseyba Abdirashid, whose violent deaths have brought attention to rising safety concerns in Eastleigh.
According to Chief Government Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor, autopsies revealed the brutal nature of their murders. Waris suffered severe neck injuries, with her hands also mutilated, suggesting torture. Amina, her daughter, died from a stab wound that pierced her heart, while young Nuseyba was smothered, her body showing indications of sexual assault. The harrowing details have fueled an outpouring of public outrage, intensifying the demand for swift justice.
The tragic sequence of events began on October 21 when Waris left her home in Eastleigh for a routine skincare appointment but did not return. Her daughter Amina and niece Nuseyba, concerned by her prolonged absence, went out later that evening to search for her. CCTV footage captured the two young women making a phone call near a taxi—their last known location before their disappearance. The following day, the three women’s bodies were found across different locations in Nairobi and Machakos County, laying bare the brutal end to a seemingly ordinary day.
A suspect, believed to have participated in ransom negotiations, is now in police custody. The individual was arrested while attempting to escape and is reportedly linked to the extortion of Sh1 million from another woman’s family. This fourth woman, who was also held with the three victims, managed to escape and informed authorities of the captors’ plans. According to her, the abductors intended to eliminate the women once they realized their identities were known. A vehicle suspected to be involved in the kidnappings has also been recovered by police.
The sorrowful burial ceremony was a moment of reflection and anger as community leaders, government officials, and family members gathered to honor the women’s lives. Sheikh Mohamud Shibli, an esteemed Islamic scholar, led the prayers, while Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan and Somalia’s Ambassador to Kenya, Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle, stood in solidarity with the grieving family. Waris’s husband was seen silently mourning, his grief palpable among the mourners.
MP Hassan, in an impassioned speech, called on the government to expedite its investigation and to enhance security measures across Kamukunji, a constituency frequently impacted by gang violence. “Our community will not rest until we see justice served for these innocent lives,” he stated. Ambassador Abdulle echoed these sentiments, thanking Kenyan authorities for their efforts and emphasizing the necessity for justice.
The triple homicide has not only unsettled the Eastleigh community but has also underscored the growing urgency for security reforms in Nairobi’s neighborhoods, where crime rates continue to alarm residents. Leaders of the Somali community have urged unity and restraint, asking the public to allow the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) the necessary space to complete its work. “Let us give the DCI the space to complete their work. This is a painful time for us, and we need support, not speculation,” said a relative.
Community advocates and human rights groups have also seized the moment to urge authorities to address the alarming rise in gang activity in Eastleigh. While safety concerns have plagued the area for some time, the sheer brutality of this incident has amplified calls for reform. Rights groups are pressing for immediate and sustained action to ensure that residents, particularly vulnerable groups like women and children, can live in their communities without fear.
As Nairobi confronts the tragedy of these killings, the city’s attention turns to accountability and healing. For Eastleigh, the loss of Waris, Amina, and Nuseyba is a call to action—a collective plea to make public safety a priority, so that such horrors may never be repeated.
