The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has presented six witnesses before the Garissa High Court in a case where a husband and two others are accused of murdering 17-year-old refugee girl.
Those who testified included the deceased’s mother, Amina Abdi Noor, her stepfather Mahamud Mohamed, landlady Qurisha Ibrahim, two neighbours, and Corporal Lucas Musambi, the investigating police officer.
According to Ms. Noor, her daughter Gaala Adan was born on January 1, 2008, and was married to the first accused, Mohammed Kassim Tiffow, on February 22, 2025, at Dagahaley Refugee Camp in a ceremony conducted under Somali rites.
However, the marriage reportedly turned violent soon after the union, when the deceased expressed regret and resistance to the arrangement.
Ms. Noor told the court that her daughter had been sending her voice notes expressing fear and frustration in the days leading up to her death. Their final conversation took place on the night she died.
One neighbour testified that on the night of the incident, one of the accused persons informed him that Tiffow had been stabbed by his wife.
On rushing to the scene, they found Tiffow outside the house with stab wounds and rushed him to hospital.
When they returned, they discovered that the house where the deceased had been locked inside was on fire. Despite their attempts to rescue her, Gaala sustained severe burns and died shortly after.
The deceased’s stepfather, Mohamed, recounted that he had been informed of persistent abuse in the marriage.
He added that Gaala’s body was so badly burnt that he could not recognise her when it arrived.
Investigating officer Corporal Musambi told the court that police recovered a knife at the scene, photographed the area, and collected key pieces of evidence.
He also witnessed the postmortem, which was conducted on March 22, 2025, and later released the body for burial.
He further confirmed that statements were recorded from all witnesses, and following investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Officer (DCIO) and his team, the three accused were arrested and arraigned before the Wajir Magistrate’s Court.
The matter was later transferred to the Garissa High Court, where they were formally charged with murder.
Mohammed Kassim Tiffow, Mussa Sheikh Ahmed, and Adan Mohamme Ahmed are accused of murdering Gaala Adan on March 22, 2025, at Lolkuta South Sub-location, Wara Location, Hadado Sub-County, within Wajir County.
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Bonny Okemwa and Principal Prosecution Counsel Benard Owuor.
All three accused pleaded not guilty before Justice John Onyiego and were each released on a bond of Sh100,000.
The matter is scheduled for further hearing on November 4, 2025.
Fresh paint or closure: City Hall issues 14-day ultimatum to building owners
