Despite justice being served, the journey continues to be arduous for a single mother in Kwale county, whose two daughters were defiled by a neighbour.
Even six years later, the traumatic memories persist, haunting the mother who sacrificed everything to ensure her daughters received justice.
In 2019 *Khadija's daughters (not her real name) were defiled and life took another turn.
Her daughters were aged 13 and eight at the time, with one of them living with a disability.
With no financial resources, the journey to seek justice was incredibly challenging for Khadija.
She had to wait for years for her daughters to get justice, a journey she saids has been tiresome and full of intimidation.
"My two daughters were hurt deeply; it's something that shattered my heart. It was very difficult to bear. The entire process of getting justice was a long painful wait," she said.
Her serene demeanour and eyes betray the hardships she endured.
At one point during the interview, Khadija teared up, expressing gratitude to God for the immense support she received.
She said that the perpetrator hailed from a wealthy family and well-known to her and used their financial power to obstruct justice.
The woman recounted feeling frequently intimidated for pursuing justice, with no one to turn to for help, and she nearly reached the point of giving up.
She recounted that in her pursuit of justice for her daughters, she lost her marriage.
The 37-year-old explained how her husband's family turned against her, leading to her eviction from their matrimonial home.
Her husband also shirked his responsibilities and abandoned the family, leaving them to endure pain and uncertainty on the streets.
"This case caused significant disputes within my family, resulting in my separation from my husband," Khadija said, adding that she survived on house chore jobs to feed for the family.
She added that the perpetrator's family had offered her husband's family a substantial sum of money to drop the case.
However, she adamantly refused, which led to her being subjected to name-calling, emotional abuse and ultimately being forced to leave her marital home.
"The pressure was immense," Khadija recounted, her voice shaking with emotion.
"They called me names, they emotionally abused me, but I couldn't betray my daughters. They are my priority."
Despite the challenges and the personal sacrifices she endured, Khadija remained steadfast in seeking justice for her daughters.
She said her daughters were innocent and deserved a safe and just world, and that's why she continued to fight for them.
Khadija added that she is prepared to risk her life to stand against the injustices that have long plagued the lives of girls in Kwale.
She later found solace in the support of some community members and organisations advocating women and children's rights.
The perpetrator, she said, had been granted a bond of sh100,000 and could afford the best lawyers in town, whereas she had none.
Khadija shared her story with a mother who connected her to, Haki Yetu, a rights organisation.
The NGO supported her with logistical needs, protection and provided access to lawyers.
Living close to the perpetrator's family was very risk because of threats but because of assistance from organisation, she was taken to a safer place until the case was determined.
This revived her hope for justice, thus making court appearances easier due to their assistance with transportation.
Before, she struggled to attend all court sessions due to financial constraints.
With the support she received, Khadija and her advocates pushed for justice, culminating in the perpetrator being sentenced to life imprisonment earlier this year in a Kwale court.
He is currently serving his sentence in Manyani prison.
Khadija expressed immense relief at the judgment, feeling as though a lifetime burden had been lifted from her shoulders.
As she continues her journey, she remains resilient, determined to rebuild her life and ensure that her daughters can heal from the trauma they endured.
She said her story was very painful but transformed her to a strong and independent woman.
Haki Yetu officer Munira Abubakar said they have handled more than 500 gender-based violence cases in Kwale.
Khadija, she said, is just one of many victims whose lives have been turned upside down by perpetrators.
However, through empowerment and legal support, they have been able to achieve justice.
