By Nuru Salim.
The family of Jane Achieng Amullo, a 26-year-old from Likoni who was brutally dismembered and body hidden in a sack , is set to be laid to rest in Rachuonyo, Homa Bay County with some of her body parts missing.
Jane’s remains, which have been preserved at the Mombasa County Referral Hospital morgue for the past two months, will be transported to Rachuonyo, Homa Bay County, where she will be buried according to Luo traditions.
Her grieving mother, Ann Achieng’, said the family had no choice but to proceed with the burial, as the wait for justice has been long and painful, compounded by an escalating hospital bill. She said they had hoped to recover all her remains, but with no progress and mounting expenses, they had to make a difficult decision.
“We have decided to bury her like this because the hospital bill keeps increasing, and I have been in Mombasa for too long, following up on my daughter’s case. Back home, they are waiting for me to finalize the burial proceedings so she can finally rest,” she said.
Jane’s dismembered body was discovered stuffed in a sack in Approved, Likoni, while her head was later found in Kwale County. However, her thighs and legs remain missing, leaving the family with no choice to bury what was found.
Her sister, Norah Atieno, expressed disappointment over the investigation process, saying they had hoped to recover the missing body parts before burial.
“We didn’t get the thighs and legs, but considering the hospital bills, we have decided to bury what we have. It has been two months since her body was discovered in the sack, and the pain has been unbearable. We have no choice but to take her remains home and give her a proper send-off,” she said.
The family expressed disappointment over what they termed a slow and inconclusive investigation by the authorities. Despite the gruesome nature of the murder, they claim there has been little progress in identifying those responsible. They say they did everything they can, made endless inquiries, and pleaded for answers, yet justice remains elusive.
“It still pains me deeply that I have not received justice for my daughter. She was mercilessly killed, and no one has been held accountable. I don’t know what the government is doing about this and until now I don’t know what the government has planned for us,” Achieng’ lamented.
Jane’s uncle, George Onyango, acknowledged the efforts of a team of investigators from Nairobi but said the family was still uncertain about the progress of the case. He said despite the forensic experts’ involvement, no concrete information has been given, leaving them in limbo.
“The team from Nairobi did their best, but we still don’t understand the direction of their investigations. We only hope they have not abandoned the case,” he said.
The family’s frustration is shared by close friends, including Rose Moraa, who expressed outrage at the way the case has been handled.
“I am shocked that Jane is being taken back home for burial without final answers to her murder. Despite having a government in place, we are still burying someone without all her body parts. This is a disgrace and the government together with the investigation department should feel ashamed about this,” Moraa said.
Human rights organizations have condemned the incident and called on the government to ensure justice is served.
Haki Afrika’s Rapid Response Officer, Mathias Shipeta, urged the police to speed up investigations and bring the perpetrators to book. He said no family should have to suffer the way Jane’s has, and failure to resolve such cases only emboldens criminals.
“As a human rights organization, we strongly oppose all forms of violence. We call upon the national police to take immediate action to restore order and ensure justice for all citizens,” he said.
Francis Auma, an emergency officer at Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI), decried the rising insecurity especially in the south coast and its environs, particularly in Likoni, Jomvu, and Kisauni. He said cases of violent crime have surged, yet the response from authorities has been slow and ineffective.
“The security situation in the south coast and areas such as Jomvu and Kisauni has worsened. We have seen residents being attacked and even journalists targeted. It is the duty of the police to prevent such heinous crimes and ensure the safety of all citizens,” he said referring to the latest attack of Msenangu FM journalist, Brivian Simiyu who was attacked in Diani.
With the burial now set to proceed, Jane’s remains will be transported by road to Rachuonyo, where family, friends, and community members will gather to pay their last respects.
Despite the pain, the family hopes that one day, justice will be served and those responsible for Jane’s brutal murder will be held accountable.
For now, the family is forced to endure the difficult reality of laying their daughter to rest without all of her remains, an ordeal they never imagined facing.
