Busia rape victim’s kin threatened

The mother of the Busia sexual attack victim says her family is living in fear following threats from strangers.

The family of the girl – she was named Liz by a campaign for justice to her – has been receiving threats from people associated with the suspects in the June 26 attack, her mother told the Nation on Tuesday.

Strangers have been visiting the girl’s elderly grandmother in a different village to apparently intimidate her, she said.

“They come to my home and that of my mother. They knock at the doors, take seats and do not say what they want. After a while, they leave without uttering a word,’’ she said from Eldoret.

The 39-year old woman said her mother and her children aged between seven and 14 were living in fear.

“The children and their grandmother are now so intimidated that they are even afraid of remaining alone in the house,’’ she said yesterday at the hospital where she had taken Liz for a doctor’s review.

The 16-year-old girl, whose story attracted international attention, was discharged from Gynocare Fistula Hospital about three weeks ago and has been recovering at her grandmother’s home.

Her mother said that since her discharge, some villagers have been threatening the family with dire consequences should her attackers be jailed.

She said they reported, together with her husband, the matter to Butula Police on Monday where they recorded statements .

Following the reports, the management of Gynocare centre on Tuesday decided to give Liz shelter at the hospital.

“We have learnt that there is so much tension which is not good for her because she is still recovering from the trauma.

“We want her to remain in hospital so we can give her psycho-social support. She is doing very well and we do not want anything to distract her from the recovery path,’’ said Ms Linner Too, a nurse and counsellor at the hospital.

Only one of the six young men suspected to have attacked the Class Seven girl has been arrested and charged with causing her grievous bodily harm in a Busia court.

The girl’s story was published exclusively by Daily Nation’s DN2 on October 8. The Nation Media Group initiated a campaign to support her receive treatment and justice.

Reader’s helped raise about Sh860,000 towards the cause.