Body of 19 year old girl who went missing days ago found in mortuary

By Tobby Otum

The body of a 19-year old girl who went missing two days ago was found at Port Reitz hospital mortuary in Mombasa county.

The family has invited human rights organizations and has hired a private pathologist to establish the cause of her death.

Najma Maalim was waiting to be enrolled into a university after scoring a B-plus in last year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) national examinations.

Her elder brother Ibrahim confirmed her body was found at the hospital mortuary on Friday night after searching for her in the past two days.

He said his sister had told him she was going to pick up some document from a friend.

“But when we tried to call her after 7 pm on the material day she could not be reached because her phone was switched off,” he said.

A relative of Najma Maalim addressing journalists at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital in Mombasa County. The 19-year old girl’s body was found at Port Reitz hospital mortuary after she went missing for a couple of days and the family was forced to transfer the body for post mortem at the referral hospital due to lack of the facility at the Port Reitz mortuary.

Ibrahim said his sister left home on Wednesday afternoon and never returned.

He said his sister’s friend was well known to the family and used to live in the neighbourhood and she temporarily stayed with the friend when she had finished doing her KCSE in Nyandarua county.

Abdi Noor, who is a cousin to the deceased, told journalists they are getting contradicting information and statements from her friend and the driver who carried her body to the mortuary.

Relatives of Najma Maalim watch in disbelief as her body was being removed from a police vehicle at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital in Mombasa County. The 19-year old girl’s body was found at Port Reitz hospital mortuary after she went missing for a couple of days and the family was forced to transfer the body for post mortem at the referral hospital due to lack of the facility at the Port Reitz mortuary.

He said efforts were being made to ensure her friend who is in Eldoret returns to Mombasa to record a statement with police.

“We are getting information that the deceased was picked up by a passerby while still alive near the weighbridge at Dongo Kundu,” he said.

The remains of Najma Maalim being removed from a police vehicle at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital in Mombasa County. The 19-year old girl’s body was found at Port Reitz hospital mortuary after she went missing for a couple of days and the family was forced to transfer the body for post mortem at the referral hospital due to lack of the facility at the Port Reitz mortuary.

The cousin told journalists the deceased was dropped at the Port Reitz hospital while she was still alive.

Noor said they have credible information from the police that the hospital doctors called the police to inform them a patient who had been brought there had died.

He told journalists the deceased was found unconscious along the highway after last being seen boarding a tuk tuk.

“The family demands for the right information from her friend, the driver and police officer who were last seen with her,” he pointed out.

The deceased cousin accused the local hospital of neglect which led to her death.

Noor said the family is not satisfied with the reports they are getting from friends arguing that it is not adding up.

Muslims for Human Rights [MUHURI] program officer Francis Auma said they moved to the scene as they suspect there was foul play in the girl’s death.

He said after the examination of the body of the deceased they see a possibility of torture being involved.

“Let the government investigate and take action against those behind the murder,” he said.

The MUHURI program officer pointed out the Dongo Kundu by pass is a highway and wondered how an injured person could be dumped along the highway without anyone noticing.

Francis said they have engaged a lawyer and have combined forces with other human rights organisations to get to the truth.

He said he believes the girl was killed in cold blood and challenged the government to take responsibility.

Haki Africa rapid response officer Mathias Shippeta told journalists they are saddened with the death of such a young girl who had the intention to pursue her education and career through university.

He said it was unjustified for such a girl to lose her life in such unclear circumstances.

The family lawyer Dirick Odhiambo said the girl who hails from Garissa was last seen on June 8 and it is reported that a good Samaritan found her injured but alive along the SGR highway.

He said the deceased has marks of injury on her head by a blunt object and urged for patience as the family was waiting for a post mortem report.

Speaking on behalf of the Changamwe residents, Abdi Daib told journalists the girl had a promising future after performing well in last year’s national examinations.

He said it was unfortunate that she met her death when she had come to join the family in the county.