Vigil to be held for slain Mildred Odira outside Police station

Civil activists will on Thursday night hold a vigil outside the Central police station to commemorate slain Mildred Odira and other victims of femicide.

Post-mortem examination revealed that Mildred was hit several times by a blunt object on the head, her limps appeared run over, before the body was abandoned near Mwiki, Kasarani. Her family had reported her disappearance before her body was later found at City Mortuary.

The Grassroots Women Initiative Network-Kenya will host the vigil from 6pm to 8pm that will be graced by Suba North MP Millicent Odhiambo.

Speaking to Nairobi News on the phone, Ms Waithera Wanjiru said the group has monitored rising numbers of women who were sexually abused before being killed. The trend is worrying, she said.

For instance, seven women were found killed in Nakuru in a similar pattern. Most victims worked in bars and nightclubs. “The few known cases of those killed like Sharon Otieno, Maribel Kapolon, and recently Mary Kamangara and Mildred are an indicator that there are many more dying daily and Kenya has a dysfunctional criminal justice system which is overly patriarchal,” said Ms Wanjiru.

Meanwhile, Mildred’s family will on Wednesday hold a fund raiser at Professional Centre for burial expenses and welfare of her nine-year-old son.

“It is a trying time for all of us, having lost my sister unexpectedly. But we believe justice will prevail. The vigil will also double as a harambee to raise funds for the burial expenses and also help take care of her son,” said her sister Maureen Anyango.

Mildred will be buried on February 18 at her parents’ home in Homa Bay county.

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