Death of Caroline Mwatha
On 6 February 2019, 37-year-old Caroline Mwatha Ochieng’, a Kenyan human rights activist and founder of the Dandora Community Center (which investigates and documents cases of police killings in Dandora), went missing.[1] Her body was found in Nairobi's City mortuary on 12 February where it had been registered under a different name. Police reports established that she had died on 7 February.[2][3] A post-mortem examination determined that she died due to exsanguination. The bleeding was caused by a rupture at the rear of her uterus, reportedly as the result of an unsafe abortion. The remains of a male fetus were still in the womb, minus a hand.[4]
Death
[edit]Her father and husband told reporters that they did not believe police reports, since they were unaware that she had been pregnant.[5] Patrick Gathara of The Washington Post noted skepticism was warranted, since police had been involved with covering up the murders of human rights defenders in the past.[6] A second, independent autopsy confirmed the cause of death.[7] Amnesty International Kenya stated: "If Mwatha was not killed by State execution, she was killed by a system that allows crude abortion clinics to exist for its failure to provide safe abortion services."[8]
Aftermath of death
[edit]Memorial services were held on 21 February at Uhuru Park's Freedom Corner. They were attended by Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, politician Martha Karua and Nairobi Women Representative Esther Passaris.[8] A Requiem Mass was refused by the Catholic Church because of its opposition to abortion.[9] The funeral was on 23 February in Asembo Bay, Siaya County near her family's home.[10] She is survived by her two children and a husband.[8]
Eight people have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the abortion, which is illegal in Kenya unless the mother's life is at risk.[7] The clinic where the procedure was performed was not licensed to operate.[3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Kenyans mourn rights activist Caroline Mwatha". Africanews. 13 February 2019. Archived from the original on 17 February 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
- ^ Maina, Kamore (12 February 2019). "Body of missing Dandora activist Caroline Mwatha found at City Mortuary". The Star, Kenya. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
- ^ a b Githae, Wanjohi; Merab, Elizabeth (13 February 2019). "Mwatha's death: Clinic not registered". Daily Nation. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
- ^ Mutanu, Bernardine (15 February 2019). "This is what killed Caroline Mwatha — pathologist". Daily Nation. Archived from the original on 19 May 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
- ^ Ouko, Gordon; Kimani, Trizza (14 February 2019). "Claims of Caroline's failed abortion 'hollow, not true'". The Star, Kenya. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
- ^ Gathara, Patrick (13 February 2019). "Opinion | What the unspeakable tragedy of Caroline Mwatha reveals about Kenya". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 24 April 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
- ^ a b Oneko, Sella; Daball, Melanie Cura (13 February 2019). "Autopsy finds Kenyan activist died during abortion attempt". Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
- ^ a b c Kahongeh, James (23 February 2019). "Caroline Mwatha to be buried today". Daily Nation. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
- ^ Nyawira, Lyndsay (22 February 2019). "Anti-abortion: Catholic Church declines to hold requiem Mass for Caroline Mwatha". The Star, Kenya. Archived from the original on 23 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
hold requiem Mass
- ^ "Caroline Mwatha tribute concert happening in Dandora". Nairobi News. 17 February 2019. Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.