Three men charged with brutal murder of Wajir teen who rejected forced marriage

The suspects were charged after the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) directed the investigating officers to exhume the deceased’s body and conduct a proper postmortem examination to establish the cause of death.

The deceased had been married to the first accused, Mohammed Kassim Tiffow 40, in a ceremony held in accordance with Somali rites on February 22, 2025 at Dagahaley Refugee Camp.

It is alleged that the marriage quickly turned sour, resulting in physical violence after the deceased reportedly changed her mind and turned down the marriage.

All three accused pleaded not guilty to the charges before Justice John Onyiego on May 6, 2025, who directed that a pre-bail report be filed in court before making a ruling on bond and bail terms.

The accused persons will be remanded at Garissa GK prison until May 15, when the case will come for mention.

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The three were first produced in Wajir Law Courtst on April 1, where police were allowed to hold them for 24 days pending investigations.

After reviewing the file, the DPP directed a fresh postmortem examination, leading to the exhumation of the body last week.

In an affidavit, Mr Nicholus Kipkoech Langat, DCIO Wajir West, told the court that Mohamed Kassim Tiffow, Mussa Sheikh Ahmed and Adan Mohamed Ahmed were linked to the murder of Gaala Adan.

He said the alleged offence was committed on the night of March 22, 2025, at Wara of Lolkuta Location within Hadado Sub County and reported to the police on the same day at Ademasajida Police Post OB number 02/22/03/2025.

Domestic violence 

Mr Langat said Mohamed Kassim Tiffow, being the husband of the deceased, had a quarrel with her on the fateful night.

“The deceased expressed fear for her life by making frantic phone calls to her mother and stepfather, who both reside at the Dagahaley Refugee Camp and informed them of the same,” Mr Langat said.

He added: “The quarrel degenerated into a fight and Kassim was stabbed on the chest and sustained cuts on his palm as he struggled to grab the knife off the deceased”.

It was during the commotion that Musa Sheikh Ahmed and Adan Mohamed Ahmed came in to help and subdue the deceased.

“At that juncture, as Musa and Ahmed were leaving to escort Tiffow to seek medical attention for the injuries sustained, a fierce fire broke out at the residence and burnt the deceased to death,” Mr Langat told the court.

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He said the police officers visited the scene and saw the badly burnt body. The interior of the whole single room had been extensively burnt by the fierce flames.

“Police officers sealed off the scene, processed it and collected several exhibits among them a Somali knife, blood-stained clothes and some burnt pieces of clothes,” the Wajir West DCIO said.

Following the charge against the suspects, Ms Rukia Mohamed, a human rights activist, said “we can now see wheels of justice starting to roll. We want this case to serve as an example and a deterrent to men who prey on young girls and those using traditional ways to solve serious disputes.”

Gaala Adan was reportedly killed for resisting a forced marriage to the 40-year-old man.

She had been taken to Wara Ademsajajida village, about 150 kilometres away from the refugee camp where she would be married to Mohamed Kassim Tiffow.

Upon meeting the intended husband and refusing to enter the union, she suffered 30 days of physical abuse, leading to her death as reported by the family.

On March 22, Gaala made a desperate call to her mother and uncle warning that her life was in danger.

“Every sunset, when I get to that house, I get beaten. I was betrayed to marry this herder. No one wants to listen to me,” Gaala said in a voice note sent to her mother.