Three people have been arrested in connection with the murder of a 17-year-old girl in investigations into a case that has reignited debate over child marriages and gender-based violence.

Police Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga yesterday said among the suspects is the man who the girl had been forced to marry.

“The National Police Service deeply regrets this death and condoles with the family of the victim, while asking the wider Kenyan community to desist from harmful cultural practices while letting children be just that, children,” he said. 

The minor, originally from a refugee family in Dadaab, was allegedly abducted and forced to marry a 55-year-old man in Wajir County.

Reports indicate that she was held captive for 27 days before being murdered and her body set on fire.

A distressing voice recording sent to her mother before her death revealed the abuse she endured. In the recording, the minor described being beaten continuously, expressing her desperation and fear. “…24 hours I am being beaten… this is not a man…

“I was betrayed to marry this herder… Why is my face swollen? I do not have a man here… He gets your support every time… no one wants to listen to me… every sunset when I get to that house, I get beaten,” she said.

Her mother recounted the chilling final moments of her daughter’s life.

“Late at night when people were coming from night prayer at 10pm, she called saying they had started stabbing her with a knife. She added that they were taking away her phone before everything went silent. At around 2am, I received a call saying my daughter was butchered,” she said.

A postmortem revealed the girl suffered 100-degree burns and spinal column injuries.