In the pursuit of justice for her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Halima is now facing threats to her life.
Halima is in a dilemma.
Should she continue pursuing justice for her child or give in and potentially save her life and that of her family?
In June last year, the child was playing in a vacant room in their Swahili style house in Likoni, while Halima was going about her house chores, when a 16-year-old neighbour, who was friends with Halima's elder son, came into the house.
The radio was on.
“There was nothing unusual because I used to see him all the time when he came with my son. But that day, I heard distress noises coming from the vacant room. When I went to check, I met the boy leaving the room,” she said.
She asked the boy what was wrong with the girl and why she was making such noises, but the boy did not answer and simply walked past her and out of the house.
When she entered the room where her child was, she was hit by the horrific scene.
The child was on the floor, blood oozing from her private parts.
She was rushed to hospital and it was discovered she had been defiled.
According to Halima, she called the boy’s brother and reported what had happened.
The suspect’s brother and their mother went to Halima's house in the evening and they talked in a bid to try find a solution.
However, they did not come to an agreement as Halima was determined to seek legal redress.
Halima said her girl’s treatment depleted her financial resources and was forced into bankruptcy.
“My girl could not control her bowel movement. A neighbour helped me continue with the treatment because I could not afford it anymore,” she said.
She used up to eight diapers a day until doctors finally were able to rectify the situation.
The case in court has been dragging, with Halima saying the delay in dispensing with the case is putting her under increasing pressure from certain individuals, who are pushing her to stop following up on the case.
Halima, who has testified in the case, told the media she is receiving calls from people she expected to be on her side to accept an out-of-court settlement.
“I have also received threats to get out of town or I will lose not only the case but also more precious things. I am now even afraid to live in Likoni,” she said.
“But I have said I will not relent until I get justice for my girl. I am not afraid anymore. Whether I die in the hands of the family or in the hands of the officers.”
Muslims for Human Rights, a lobby group, urged the Judiciary to expedite the case, saying justice delayed is justice denied.
Muhuri rapid response officer Francis Auma said interference of cases by police officers is becoming rampant, pointing an accusing finger at one of the police stations in Likoni, which he said is notorious in such cases.
“We have received numerous reports about this particular police station. Complaints are almost similar, with most being interference with the cases reported,” he said.
“We have reported cases of bribery, suspects booked at the police station but are not taken to court, instead their cases are dispensed with at kangaroo courts formed at the station.”
Auma said there are strong forces trying to interfere with the case but he expressed confidence in the Judiciary, adding that he strongly believes the attempted interference will not succeed.
“Those people trying to interfere with the case should know that sexual offences cannot be dropped easily, especially where a one-and-a-half-year-old child is involved,” he said.
He said those trying to shut Halima up have gone to great lengths, including taking away her girl’s medical records.
“There are even officers in the corridors of justice trying to convince her to drop this case. It is not right,” he said.
Halima said she moved houses once, out of the neighbourhood where the incident happened, but some goons are still following and intimidating her.
“I want to move out of Likoni completely but I do not have the resources to do it. My business collapsed after I depleted all my savings treating my girl,” she said.
Auma urged the Independent Police Oversight Authority to take up the matter and investigate the officers involved in the case and the police station in question.
Said Salim, a human rights activist with Muhuri, said it is sad the instruments that are supposed to protect the rights of people are the same ones trying to defeat justice.
“The conduct of police officers in this country is very wanting. That police station is just a reflection of what is happening across the country,” Salim said.
He said it is not right to have a police department that the people do not have trust in.
“It is sad that a department that is supposed to inflict hope is the same department that is creating fear and disturbance,” he said.
He said proper reforms should be instigated in the police service in Kenya.