Man accused of assaulting sister in Eastleigh surrenders to police for questioning

A 30-year-old man accused by his sister of assaulting her last Tuesday has surrendered to the police for questioning.

Abdiaziz Abdullahi turned himself in at the Nairobi Area Regional DCI headquarters for questioning regarding the assault, which reportedly occurred on January 2 in Nairobi's Eastleigh area.

His 23-year-old sister, Ridwan Abdullahi Hassa, alleged that Abdiaziz assaulted her during an altercation at their home. The dispute arose following her trip to Uganda on December 26, purportedly to visit friends, which reportedly caused tension within the family.

The suspect stated that the family had reported Ridwan missing two days after her departure, filing a report at Garissa Police Station under OB number 31/28/12/2024 at around 11:25 am.

In his defence, Abdiaziz claimed he acted to prevent what he feared might be a case of human trafficking. He expressed concern that his sister could become a victim of a trafficking network that targets individuals and takes them to Libya. Ridwan, however, denied this claim.

According to Ridwan, police stopped her at the Busia border, arrested her, and forced her to return home. Upon her return, the alleged assault took place. She was later taken to Bilal Hospital, where she was treated for injuries to her eyes, ribs, head, and abdomen. Ridwan stated that her brother's anger was triggered by her decision to travel to Uganda without seeking his approval.

Abdiaziz maintained that his sister’s intended destination was Libya, and he acted out of concern after learning about human trafficking cartels operating in the region. He alleged these cartels smuggle victims to Libya, where they are subjected to torture and extortion, with some being coerced into joining gangs if they cannot afford to return home.

In light of these allegations, DCI Regional Head Benson Kasyoki announced that the police had broadened their investigation.

“This matter is now under investigation to uncover more details about the human trafficking and smuggling claims as we continue to investigate the assault case,” Kasyoki stated.

The suspect has been released on police bond and is awaiting charges in court.

Although the siblings have since been reconciled by family members, Ridwan's travel and identification documents remain in her brother's possession.

This incident comes as Kenya grapples with rising cases of gender-based violence.

A report by the United Nations on gender-based violence shows that the majority of assaults occur at home and are perpetrated by close relatives.

Human rights groups have called for swift action to avert the rising cases amongst them stricter enforcement of laws protecting women.