Calls for the immediate disbandment of the Witemere and Majengo slums’ community policing, popularly known as Nyumba Kumi, dominated the funeral service of seven-year-old Tamara Blessing Kabura who was defiled and murdered in Nyeri County last week.
Traders from the Nyeri open-air market, as well as mourners, who paid tribute to the Grade One pupil, accused the Nyumba Kumi elders in the informal settlement area of abetting crime and blocking the National Government Administrative Officers from performing their duties.
They are now calling on authorities to investigate elders and community leaders over what they termed as massive corruption, which they said has led to the deterioration of security in the slum area.
They also want a thorough excavation and search conducted in the slums, where Tamara’s body was discovered, to establish whether more victims of paedophilia could be buried underneath the houses.
“We want the police and the national government to launch an immediate investigation of the so-called community elders of Majengo and Witemere slums. The government should move with speed and find out if these leaders receive bribes in order to abet crimes and how many crimes, especially against our young children, have gone unreported,” said Gatitu-Muruguru ward Member of County Assembly Wangeci Njithi.
“The defilement and gruesome murder of Tamara is a reflection of the rot in Witemere. It is a clear indication that something is wrong in our society and we should not sit easy when our young children are getting killed. We are demanding a thorough search be done in Witemere because we want to know if many more of our children are buried underneath those houses,” stated Jacqueline Kagu, a mental health advocate and friend to the family.
After missing for two days, the body of Tamara was discovered on May 26, after the prime suspect in the incident, Nicholas Macharia, led police to his house, where he had buried her lifeless body under his bed, sparking hours of protests in Nyeri town.
Preliminary findings from a postmortem conducted on Friday last week at the County Referral Hospital mortuary confirmed that the seven-year-old was indeed defiled.
On Tuesday during her funeral in Village Seven in Solio, Laikipia County, Tamara’s father, Kevin Nyaga, eulogised his firstborn daughter as a good role model and cheerful child.
He termed her death as a big loss for the family, adding that they would continue to pursue justice.
“You taught us to live a happy life despite what we may encounter. We will carry your light with us and fight for justice,” said Nyaga.
The ceremony was attended by Nyeri Deputy Governor Warui Kinaniri, Nyeri Central Deputy County Commissioner Ngunyi Maina, Nyeri County Chief Officer in charge of Trade Joseph Mwangi and representatives of elected leaders from the county.
Leaders who spoke during the funeral assured the family and Nyeri residents that justice would be served.
Ann Anyango, a representative from the National Gender and Equality Commission, told mourners that the Commission has taken up the matter and would pursue the case in court on a pro bono basis and ensure that justice for Tamara is served.
On his part, DCC Maina said that the government is not happy with the runaway violation of children and women’s rights but reassured them that the state is committed to addressing the problem.
He at the same time cautioned men against using children as an avenue for venting their frustrations, warning that those found culpable would face the full force of the law.
“It is the government’s duty to ensure that these injustices are stopped. I want to caution the men and especially fake pastors who are hiding behind religion and committing crimes. Be warned that if we find you culpable, we will deal with you in accordance with the law,” he said.
Maina also asked residents to forge a good relationship with security agents to facilitate information sharing and aid in the arrest of crime suspects.
“This is a fight that will require the help of everyone. If you suspect someone of committing a crime, please volunteer that information to authorities so that we don’t have to endure what we are currently enduring with the loss of Tamara,” he said.
By Wangari Mwangi and Christine Mumbi
