Anger over rape and killing of Garissa school girl
Safiya Abdi Bilal, a Grade 9 student of Borehole 5 Primary and Junior School, was allegedly raped by her killer on Sunday, November 16 in a village near Hagadera Refugee Camp.
Calls are growing for justice for a Garissa school girl who was brutally raped and later murdered.
Safiya Abdi Bilal, a Grade 9 student of Borehole 5 Primary and Junior School, was allegedly raped by her killer on Sunday, November 16 in a village near Hagadera Refugee Camp.
The student had recently completed her Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) on November 3, 2025.
A suspect said to be a close relative was arrested in connection with the incident and is being held at Hagadera Police Station. He was arrested alongside three other individuals who attempted to conceal the body of the victim.
Following the arrest of the suspect, an angry crowd bayed for his blood, but he was saved by police officers who took him to the police station.
While condemning the tragic incident, Garissa human rights activist Mukhtar Dahir Osman called for a speedy prosecution of the suspect, stressing that justice must be served. “We demand that the perpetrators face the full force of the law without delay or interference. Protecting children is a constitutional duty, and any failure sends a message of impunity,” said Mukhtar, who is the chairman of the Garissa Human Rights Defenders Network.
Echoing his call, the school headteacher Khalif A. Hassan appealed for government intervention to ensure a thorough investigation into the matter and the prosecution of the suspect. “It is with deep regret that we announce the tragic loss of our promising Grade 9 learner Safiya Abdi Bilal. This beastly and heinous act is a gross violation of a child’s dignity. We want to see justice and transparency in this matter,” he said.
As he called for immediate measures to prosecute the suspect, Garissa County Director of Education, Abdihamid Maalim Ali called on parents to take additional measures to protect children during the long school holidays.
We need to keep watch over our children and ensure that they are protected from sexual abuse, especially during the ongoing holidays,” he said.