Fred and Rebecca Maonga stand next to their daughter's grave in Kaunda village, Navakholo Constituency as they recall their four-year journey without their doting daughter who was killed by her former policeman lover four years ago.
Their fourth-born child Christine Maonga who was an English and Literature secondary school teacher was killed in a love triangle by the Administration Police officer on March 14, 2019 when she was only 24.
For the last four years, the family has been on the journey of getting justice over the untimely demise of their only girl in the family of six boys.
On January 20, Justice William Musyoka of Kakamega found Patrick Nyapara the police officer guilty of murdering Christine. He was scheduled to be sentenced yesterday (see side bar).
When The Saturday Standard visited the family, the parents were optimistic that justice would be served.
Fred said the death had robbed him of a special gift of his life and left a permanent scar in his soul.
"My daughter's life had started picking up when the police officer robbed her of a bright future. It is painful but I hope I will get healed after the sentencing of the suspect," said Fred.
"I had educated my only daughter and invested much in her. She had enrolled for a Master's degree only for her to be killed. I know that today's judgment will pay me and my family even though it cannot bring back her life."
However, Fred paint's a grim picture of how he struggled in his journey to get justice for his daughter stating that in 2020 the case collapsed and they went back to square zero after the defense side tampered with eyewitnesses. But the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) came to their rescue.
"In Kenya getting justice is a nightmare and an uphill task. There was a time the case was on the verge of collapsing after some of the suspect colleagues planned to sabotage the investigation thanks to the intervention and input of the IPOA who took over the investigation to the end. Last year the defense side could not appear in court and some witnesses wanted to withdraw themselves from the case at the end of it but thanks to God the judge remained firm and steady," he said.
"It has been a tough journey that I do not wish anyone to go through, but God has stood with my family to the end and the judgment of today will put to a closure all the struggle, pain and for justice to be served for my daughter so that her soul can rest in eternal peace."
Rebecca recalled the fateful day after his daughter called and informed him that the father of her child was still disturbing her even after the two had parted ways that saw Christine rent a different house with her daughter.
"She called me to advise her on what to do since the police officer was still following her and I told her to sleep and wait the following day so that we can talk and see how we can resolve the matter once and for all," said Rebecca.
"My daughter said it was fine. However, a few minutes later at around 7pm, a neighbour came to my house that night and asked us if we know anything that has happened. I told her I was not aware of anything and that's when she told me that my daughter had been shot dead by her ex-lover. We rushed to her house and found Christine's body lying on the floor of her house with my granddaughter beside her."
Rebecca says that her daughter was aggressive, social, and hardworking adding that it is the aggressive nature of her child that has led to the success of the murder case.
"This case has largely been won by the aggressiveness of my daughter. She has been helping us to fight the case through her spirit to see that justice is served to her daughter and the entire family," she adds.
"My daughter has been with us in spirit until this stage we feel we are free the burden of the pain and struggle is over and we expect our souls to be free from any form of pain or vengeance."
The mother of seven says life has not been easy since the incident, especially for her granddaughter who has been psychologically affected.
"Since the death of my daughter the life of my granddaughter has not been the same. She was mentally disturbed but the therapy and counseling have helped her cope," said Rebecca.
Prior to her death, she was teaching at Navakholo secondary school and she was waiting to start her job in April at St Monica Butunyi Girls School where she had passed an interview and received an employment letter from Teacher Service Commission.
