By Amy Moyi
A woman from Kiserian town in Kajiado West sub-county has alleged facing threats and intimidation from her relatives after she rescued her sister and children from domestic violence.
According to Felistar Nduku, she decided to intervene and rescue her sister after learning that her sister had been enduring verbal and physical abuse from her husband for several years.
“I heard from their neighbour that her husband had been beating her up and I knew I had to do something she is our last born and has a mental illness. She had no one to look after her because our older siblings are married with families. When I left for work in Nairobi, I had no idea she had been married off and concieved two children since we did not have any means of communication.” said Nduku.
Nduku has said the abuse her sister endured was brutal ranging from being denied basic needs such as food and clothing to extremely painful beatings that contributed to the decline in her physical and mental health.
“Her husband was extremely violent to her and she lived in fear and at the mercy of neighbors who donated clothes to her.He would beat her up to the point she lost most of her teeth. He also denied her food, chased her and her children out of the house. I panicked when I heard she was threatening to commit suicide.” said Nduku.
However, after she rescued her sister, she began to receive threatening phone calls from family members including her sisters and in-laws who accused her of breaking up a family. Nduku has said the deplorable and abusive conditions her sister had been living in is what drove her to her rescue.
“I got numerous harassing and threatening calls from my sisters, in-laws and even the police. I was told if my marriage failed I should leave other people’s marriages and mind my own business. When she came here, she and her children were barefoot, she had no clothes, she was malnourished.” said Nduku.
Nduku has said the domestic violence her sister endured for more than five years has has left her with permanent injuries citing that she wants to be left in peace to care for her sister. I just want peace as I take care of my sister and her children because she cannot do anything by herself. I do not even understand how she was married off with her mental condition. It is my responsibility since my parents died. Today she can only eat soft good because she lost her teeth because of the violence. I also have to bathe and dress her.” said Nduku.
