Gaala Aden: KNCHR demands justice and calls for action against forced marriages

Following the tragic death of 17-year-old Gaala Aden, who was forcibly married to a 55-year-old man in Wajir, several human rights organizations have strongly condemned the incident, describing it as inhumane and a violation of fundamental rights.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) deputy chairperson, Dr. Raymond Nyeris, in a statement on Friday, extended condolences to Gaala's family and called for swift and decisive action against those responsible.

Dr. Nyeris urged the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the National Police Service (NPS) to expedite investigations, ensure all perpetrators are held accountable, and strengthen protections for victims of forced marriage and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.

Additionally, KNCHR has called on the County Government of Wajir, the National Government, the Department of Refugee Services (DRS), civil society organizations, and the public to enforce laws against child marriage and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.

The commission emphasized the need for local authorities to take a proactive role in eliminating these harmful practices and urged the establishment of a comprehensive legal framework to recognize, protect, and manage refugees in Kenya, with particular focus on individuals facing multiple vulnerabilities.

Citing Article 26 of the Constitution, which guarantees every Kenyan the right to life, KNCHR condemned Gaala’s murder as a gross violation of this fundamental right and stressed that justice must be served without delay.

Before her tragic death, Gaala left several voicemails for her mother, detailing the daily physical abuse she suffered at the hands of both her husband and his relatives.

She expressed her desperation, stating that she did not want to remain in the marriage and would rather return to the refugee camp where she had previously lived.

Gaala informed her mother that her abusers were taking away her phone, preventing her from communicating any further.

Shortly after, her mother received a call, informing her that her daughter had been murdered.