The Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) on Tuesday stepped up its case in the murder trial of 17-year-old refugee Gaala Adan, presenting crucial evidence and witness testimony before the Garissa High Court.
The case, which has drawn widespread public interest, involves three accused persons, Mohammed Kassim Tiffow, Mussa Sheikh Ahmed, and Adan Mohamme Ahmed, who are charged with the murder of the teenager at Lolkuta South Sub-location, Wara Location, Hadado Sub-County in Wajir County on March 22, 2025.
Appearing before Justice John Onyiego, the prosecution team, led by Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Bonny Okemwa and Principal Prosecution Counsel Benard Owuor, called three witnesses, Ibrahim Abdiwahid, Senior Sergeant Joel Koskei, and Chief Mohammed Sugow, to testify in support of the State’s case.
Abdiwahid, who conducted the post-mortem examination, told the court that the body of the deceased was 100 percent burnt, with no visible injuries.
He concluded that death was caused by burns resulting from an open flame, findings which supported the prosecution’s argument that the death was deliberate and an attempt had been made to destroy evidence.
Senior Sergeant Koskei, a crime scene investigator attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters, testified that he documented the exhumation and post-mortem of the body at Daadab Refugee Camp, capturing 52 photographs and video recordings.
He told the court that the only visible injuries were consistent with severe burns, reinforcing the view that the victim’s death was caused by intense heat exposure.
Meanwhile, Chief Mohammed Sugow, a local administrator from Wajir County, recalled receiving a late-night call about a house fire.
Upon arriving at the scene, he found the deceased’s body outside the house, suggesting that it had been moved after the incident.
He also observed that one of the accused, the deceased’s husband, had suffered stab wounds, further deepening the mystery surrounding the case.
The prosecution argued that the cumulative evidence pointed to a premeditated murder, followed by a deliberate attempt to conceal the crime by setting the scene ablaze.
Prosecutors further stated that the photographic and medical evidence corroborated each other and directly linked the accused to the death.
All three accused persons, who have denied the charges, remain free on a bond of Sh1 million each as the trial continues.
The case is scheduled to resume on December 11, 2025, for further hearings, when additional witnesses will be called.
A statement from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said, “The DPP has intensified its pursuit of justice for a 17-year-old refugee by presenting three key witnesses before the Garissa High Court. The testimonies have reinforced the prosecution’s argument that the death was both deliberate and concealed.”
The DPP reiterated its commitment to pursuing justice in all cases of violence against vulnerable persons, stressing that the matter will be prosecuted to its conclusion.
This case has brought renewed attention to issues of violence and justice for refugees in Kenya’s north-eastern region, where cases of abuse and impunity have occasionally raised concern.
The ODPP emphasised that such crimes would not go unpunished, reaffirming its principle of justice and equality for all.
The hearing continues before Justice Onyiego, with the prosecution expected to present further forensic evidence and cross-examination of the witnesses.
If convicted, the accused face the death penalty or life imprisonment under Kenyan law for murder.
