Residents of Mjini in Imenti North Constituency are still reeling in shock and disbelief after a fight between two middle-aged women escalated into a horrific attack, with one woman scooping hot coals from a jiko and burning the other in her private parts.
Speaking at the Meru Police Station in the company of Imenti North Deputy County Commissioner Odilia Ndeti, Area Chief Margret Gakubi said the attack occurred when the aggressor overpowered the victim during an altercation in their house.
The victim sustained severe burns and injuries, requiring urgent medical attention.
“We have had this issue where one woman badly burnt the other in her private parts following a fight that broke among them in their house,” said Gakubi.
Gakubi added that the area is prone to Gender Based Violence and urged residents not to act out of anger.
She stressed that disputes should be reported to authorities, warning that taking the law into one’s own hands can result in imprisonment, even if the perpetrator believes they are innocent.
Deputy County Commissioner Odilia Ndeti expressed deep concern over the attack, describing it as saddening that one woman would seriously harm another.
She confirmed that the victim is receiving treatment, but cautioned that full recovery could take time due to the severity of the burns.
“If you look at this woman who has been burnt in her private parts and is already receiving the necessary treatment, it will take time before she fully recovers, which is bad,” said Odilia.
In addition, the authorities revealed that the aggressor was reportedly under the influence of drugs at the time of the incident, contributing to her violent behavior.
They noted that the woman attempted to flee the scene but was intercepted by members of the public.
Odilia noted that such incidents reveal the connection between drug abuse and violent actions, noting that addressing substance abuse is essential to curbing Gender-Based Violence in the community.
“We are also informed that the woman who did that act was under the influence of some drugs and didn’t seem sober. So that is why most times when we are fighting SGBV we also fight drug abuse because we know using these drugs makes people do bad things,” said Odilia.
She further urged residents to exercise restraint during disagreements, emphasizing that acting in anger can have serious consequences for both the victims and perpetrators.
She also called on the residents to report disputes promptly to authorities noting that it’s the best way to prevent violent outcomes.
