- In 2022, a 17-year-old girl in Wajir was burned to death after refusing to marry a 55-year-old man, sparking national outrage
- A court has now allowed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to exhume her body for a repeat postmortem and DNA analysis
- Gaala Aden Abdi had reportedly reached out to her family and named her killers in a chilling call before her death
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A magistrate court in Wajir has granted the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) permission to exhume the body of Gaala Aden Abdi, a 17-year-old girl who was allegedly burned to death after refusing to marry a 55-year-old man.
Citizen Digital reports that Gaala was buried on March 22 at Dagahaley Refugee Camp in Dadaab.
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Why DCI will exhume Aden Gaala's remains
Her death sparked widespread outrage and renewed calls for justice and protection of young girls from forced marriages in marginalized communities.
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According to the court order, the Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer (SCCIO) of Wajir West will oversee the exhumation process.
Dagahaley Police Station has been directed to provide security throughout the operation.
The exhumation is intended to facilitate a repeat postmortem examination to determine the precise cause of death and collect samples for toxicology and DNA analysis.
Gaala's last moments on earth
Investigators have also requested that DNA sampling be conducted either at the gravesite or another location to be designated by the government pathologist.
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Her ordeal began when she was handed over to Mohamed Kassim Tifo, a man nearly 40 years her senior.
Gaala was reportedly taken from Dagahaley Camp to Wara, Ademasajida in Habaswein, a village in Habaswein, under the cover of darkness.
Approximately 150 kilometers away, she met the man she was forced to marry for the first time.
Why Gaala was brutally killed
Upon meeting her would-be husband, Gaala resisted the marriage, but her defiance was met with hostility.
Her refusal to accept the arrangement, despite pressure from the man’s relatives, saw her subjected to 27 days of suffering before she was killed.
Tragically, before her death, Gaala reportedly made a phone call in which she revealed a plot to kill her and named those involved.
Were Aden Gaala's suspected killers arrested?
On Saturday, March 29, the police announced the arrest of three prime suspects in the teenager's heinous killing
A statement released by the National Police Service (NPS) confirmed that the 55-year-old man was among those taken into custody.
They also conveyed their condolences regarding the tragedy and called on Kenyan communities to abandon such harmful cultural traditions.
How Aden Gaala died
A post-mortem revealed Gaala suffered severe burns and spinal injuries, with evidence suggesting she may have been killed before being set on fire.
The case has drawn national attention and renewed scrutiny on the issues of child marriage and gender-based violence, particularly in Kenya’s northern regions.
Investigations are ongoing as Kenyans demand action from the state to ensure that the bereaved family receives due justice.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at.
