Hundreds gather in Eastleigh to mourn murdered mother, daughter and niece

Hundreds of residents gathered in Eastleigh today to mourn three women from the neighbourhood who were brutally killed earlier this week.

The victims—Waris Daud, her daughter Nuseiba, and her niece Amina—were found in separate locations across Nairobi and Machakos on Tuesday, sparking shock and grief throughout the community.

In a disturbing development on Wednesday, police found severed hands believed to belong to one of the victims in South Carolina.

In a show of mourning and solidarity, all shops and malls along Yusuf Haji Street in Eastleigh were closed today, reflecting the community's collective grief and support for the victims' families.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Kamukunji Member of Parliament Yusuf Hassan called for swift action from law enforcement. They urged the police to identify and arrest the perpetrators responsible for the murders.

Senator Sifuna emphasised the need for the police to enhance security measures in the country. "If these young women can be killed in such a manner, it means no one is safe in Kenya. The police need to step up their efforts," he said.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna addresses hundreds gathered in Eastleigh on Thursday, October 24, 2024, to honour Waris Daud, her daughter and niece who were murdered. (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif)

He further expressed concern that Kenya, known for having one of the most professional police forces in the region, should not allow such crimes to go unpunished. He called on the authorities to ensure that those responsible for the killings are swiftly brought to justice.

Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan also addressed the gathering and expressed his outrage over the killings, calling them an unacceptable attack on the people of Eastleigh.

"This tragedy has brought a lot of pain and a deep sense of insecurity to our community. We cannot allow this to happen again. We want the government to take action immediately and arrest those responsible for these heinous crimes," he said.

The duo was accompanied by Ahmed Abdullahi, Chairman of the Eastleigh Business District Association, who emphasised that such gruesome deaths are strictly forbidden in Somali culture and beliefs. He stressed that the murder of women is an act the community unequivocally rejects.

Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan addresses hundreds gathered in Eastleigh on Thursday, October 24, 2024, to honour Waris Daud, her daughter and niece who were murdered. (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif)

"This is a live wire for us. We will never accept the killing of our women. We demand that the government and the police tell us who committed these crimes," said Ahmed.

Following the speeches, residents took to the streets in peaceful demonstrations, carrying posters denouncing the killings and calling for an end to such violence. They also demanded accountability from law enforcement.

The protests took place along several major roads in Eastleigh and surrounding areas, causing brief traffic disruptions but remaining largely peaceful.

Meanwhile, the bodies of the three women are currently at the Nairobi City Mortuary, and burials are expected to take place on Friday in accordance with Islamic customs. The community continues to wait for updates from the police investigation as they mourn the tragic loss of the three women.