Written by Kelly Were
GARISSA, Kenya – Three men have been formally charged at the Garissa High Court with the murder of a 17-year-old refugee girl, Gaala Adan, in what prosecutors say was a brutal killing following a forced and allegedly abusive marriage.
The accused—Mohammed Kassim Tiffow, Mussa Sheikh Ahmed, and Adan Mohamme Ahmed—were arraigned on charges of murdering the teenager on March 22, 2025, in Lolkuta South Sub-location, Hadado Sub-County, Wajir County.
The case has shocked the nation and drawn attention to the continued vulnerability of young girls in refugee settings, particularly within cultural frameworks that expose them to exploitation under the guise of tradition.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the charges followed a postmortem examination that was ordered after Gaala’s body was exhumed under a directive by the DPP. The results reportedly uncovered disturbing details about the circumstances leading to her death.
The investigation revealed that the deceased, born on January 1, 2008, had been married to the first accused, Mohammed Kassim Tiffow, a 40-year-old man, in a ceremony conducted on February 22, 2025, at Dagahaley Refugee Camp—a marriage performed under Somali customary rites.
However, the prosecution alleges that soon after the marriage, the girl attempted to reject the union. This decision is believed to have sparked violent altercations, culminating in her death barely a month later.
Appearing before Justice John Onyiego, all three accused pleaded not guilty. The court ordered that a pre-bail assessment report be filed before any determination is made on bail or bond terms.
In the meantime, the trio will remain in custody at Garissa GK Prison until the next court session scheduled for May 15, 2025.
Principal Prosecution Counsel Benard Owuor confirmed that the accused were charged based on compelling evidence gathered during the exhumation and forensic investigation.
“This case involves the tragic loss of a young life, a minor who should have been protected. Instead, her death appears to have stemmed from the intersection of forced marriage, abuse, and systemic failure,” said a legal source familiar with the investigation.
Rights groups have condemned the incident, calling for urgent reforms to protect young girls from child marriage and abuse in refugee camps, where cultural practices often go unchecked by law enforcement.
