Dadaab court orders exhumation of refugee girl's body for repeat autopsy in murder probe
The order comes weeks after four suspects were remanded to allow investigators to gather forensic and witness evidence.
A Dadaab court in Garissa County has ordered the exhumation of the body of Safiya Hussein Bilal, a Grade 9 refugee student, for a repeat autopsy as part of the ongoing investigation into her gruesome murder.
The order comes weeks after four suspects were remanded to allow investigators to gather forensic and witness evidence.
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Safiya, a student at Borehole 5 Primary and Junior School in Fafi, Garissa County, was allegedly raped and murdered in her home. She had recently completed her Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) on November 3.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Senior Principal Magistrate Evans Muleka directed Safiya’s relative, Hussein Bilal, to identify the grave to facilitate the exhumation.
The Chief Government Pathologist will supervise the procedure, with experts from the Government Chemist collecting samples for analysis.
The Director of Criminal Investigations will assist with documentation, and the Fafi Subcounty Public Health Officer will oversee safety during the process.
The court also allowed Hussein Bilal to attend or be represented by a pathologist of his choice, while Dr Chweya Arthur, who conducted the initial post-mortem, will also be present.
The four suspects — Shafa Bilal Sharkane, Abubakar Abdullahi, Halima Muhumud Mogow, and Zeynab Salat Samatar — were remanded for 20 days to enable the collection of DNA samples, witness statements, and other forensic evidence.
Authorities said the period was also necessary to ensure the safety of both the suspects and the public, given the area’s proximity to the Somalia border.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has indicated that the suspects are expected to be formally charged with murder once the forensic evidence from the exhumation is complete. The case is scheduled for mention in court on December 10, 2025.
“The exhumation is expected to provide crucial forensic evidence to support ongoing investigations and aid in the prosecution of those responsible for Safiya Hussein Bilal’s death,” the ODPP said in a statement.
The exhumation and repeat autopsy are seen as crucial steps in ensuring a thorough investigation and securing justice for Safiya.
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