Authorities in Kenya have received court approval to exhume the body of 17-year-old Gaala Aden Abdi, a Somali refugee who was allegedly murdered after refusing a forced marriage to a much older man. The Wajir Magistrate Court granted permission to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to proceed with the exhumation as part of a renewed investigation into the teenager’s tragic death.
Gaala, who had been living at the Dagahaley Refugee Camp in Dadaab, Wajir County, was buried on March 22. Her death has sparked public outrage and renewed calls for action against forced marriages and gender-based violence in Kenya’s northeastern region.
According to officials, the exhumation will be supervised by the Wajir West Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer (SCCIO) and is intended to facilitate a repeat postmortem. Forensic experts will examine the remains to confirm the precise cause of death and will collect samples for both toxicological and DNA analysis. Officers from Dagahaley Police Station will provide security throughout the exhumation process to ensure its integrity.
Initial reports and a prior autopsy revealed that Gaala’s body had sustained 100% burns, consistent with being set alight using an open flame. Investigators believe the attack was directly linked to her refusal to marry a 55-year-old man.
According to police sources and family accounts, in Kenya, Gaala was taken from the refugee camp at night under false pretenses and transported over 150 kilometers to a remote village in Wara, Ademasajida. There, she was introduced to the man she was being forced to marry. Despite pressure from the man’s family and the community, the teenager stood firm in her refusal.
Tragically, her resistance reportedly led to her brutal murder. Prior to her death, Gaala is said to have made a phone call to a trusted contact in which she expressed fear for her life and identified individuals she believed were responsible for orchestrating the crime.
Her horrific death highlights the continued prevalence of forced marriages in refugee and rural communities, where young girls remain vulnerable to patriarchal traditions and gender-based violence.
The exhumation is viewed as a critical step toward securing justice for Gaala. Investigators hope the new forensic evidence will corroborate existing testimonies and aid in identifying and prosecuting those involved in her murder. Advocacy groups have also joined in demanding a full investigation and stronger enforcement of child protection laws in refugee settlements.
Gaala’s case has drawn national and international attention, reigniting debate over child marriage, refugee protection, and the urgent need for legal reforms and community education to prevent similar tragedies.
nairobiwire.com
