17-year-old murder victim’s case starts as activists observe 16 Days of Activism

The late Farida Changawa / BRIAN OTIENO

A case in which a 17-year-old Form 2 student was murdered by her supposed lover on June 6, kicked off on Monday, the day on which the 16 Days of Activism started.

Farida Changawa was stabbed in the neck, hands and arm, by her supposed lover, Lewis Kazungu, who used to work as a wine tapper for Changawa’s mother by the time of the incident, which took place in Mferejini village, Kijipwa, in Kilifi county.

Kazungu has been charged with murder, with two witnesses, Rose Umazi, who is Changawa’s aunt, and Kinani/Makomboani assistant chief Henry Randu, narrating before Lady Justice Wendy Muchemi at the Mombasa Law Courts, the events leading to the murder.

Rose Umazi and prosecution counsel Bernard Ngiri holding the alleged murder weapon at the Mombasa Law Courts on Monday / BRIAN OTIENO

International Justice Mission said Changawa’s killing was not a love triangle but about “power, control and system, failure to protect survivors of violence”.

“Her death is a painful reminder of the persistent and deadly threat of violence against women and children in Kenya, particularly in vulnerable communities.

“Changawa’s story reflects the harsh reality that many girls and women face—where poverty, gender inequity, and weak enforcement of laws create a deadly environment for survivors,” IJM Mombasa manager Aggrey Juma said.

Changawa, who left behind a nine-month-old baby when she died, was a double victim of sexual and gender-based violence.

She had been defiled while she was 13 years old and was receiving support through the IJM and the justice system.

Kinani/Makomboani assistant chief Henry Randu at the Mombasa Law Courts on Monday/ BRIAN OTIENO

On Monday, Umazi told the court Changawa had just finished cooking the family supper at around 7pm that fateful Friday when Kazungu, her boyfriend, who had been hired at their homestead six months earlier, called her for a conversation outside the kitchen.

“The two moved away from where we were and started talking. They talked for about an hour. Later they were given their supper and ate,” Umazi narrated.

She said the two later left separately but had agreed to meet somewhere outside the homestead, with Changawa telling the aunt she had gone to pick up her phone.

“Then later, after about 20 minutes, we had screams. Then shortly, Changawa came home rushing, bleeding from the neck which had been slit, and a knife still sticking from it,” Umazi said.

Changawa then fell on the ground.

“She was later taken to Kilifi County Mortuary,” Umazi said.

Assistant Chief Randu told the court he was called at around 3am the following day by a Safari Karisa, who informed him that one of their (Karisa’s) relatives had “killed his wife”.

“Karisa was seeking advice from me. He did not know what to do after they learned what the suspect had done. I advised him to make the suspect surrender to police, but he told me the suspect had disappeared and his whereabouts were unknown,” Randu said.

Suspect Lewis Kazungu at the Mombasa Law Courts on Monday / BRIAN OTIENO

However, Randu said, Karisa then called again at around 2pm, informing him the suspect, Kazungu, had been seen in their farm and was threatening to commit suicide.

Kazungu hails from Kinani/Makomboani, Randu’s jurisdiction.

“When I went there, I saw Kazungu was still in shock. He was weak and shivering because he had been rained on,” Randu said.

“He looked disturbed,” he said.

Lady Justice Muchemi adjourned the case to Tuesday, when the third prosecution witness will testify.

INSTANT ANALYSIS:

In recent years, Kenya has witnessed a disturbing surge in cases of femicide— the intentional killing of women, often perpetrated by intimate partners or family members. This rising tide of gender-based violence has sparked outrage, grief, and calls for urgent action across the nation.