Who defiled Form Two student eyeing medicine?

By Charles Ngeno

Narok, Kenya: On April 10, Margaret Kantirro, 16, a Form Two student at Mary Hill School in Thika, called her mother to tell her that they had closed school and that they should expect her the following day.

After the hectic first term – usually the longest in the school calendar – Margaret was looking forward to enjoying the Easter holiday with her siblings and friends back in the village. She was a role model as she emerged best in 2012 KCPE in Mara Division, was among those on Equity Bank’s Wings to Fly scholarship programme.

At around 5.30pm the following day, she called her mother again to inform her that they may have to wait a day longer as she had arrived in Narok late and could not find a vehicle home.

The last vehicle to Sekenani usually leaves Narok at 1pm.

“Exhilarated that she had arrived in Narok, she told me that she was going to put up at her grandmother’s place at Olopito not far from the town. That is the last time I talked to her,” said Nalamae Ene Kantirro, 56.

Margaret is said to have boarded a boda boda to her to grandmother’s home, but never made it there.

They were allegedly waylaid by a gang that raped her.

Found unconscious

She was found unconscious in a bush the following day.

“At first I thought it was a joke when I was called and told what had happened. But when my son travelled to Narok and confirmed that indeed it was her, my world came tumbling down,” said the mother of five.

Upon getting the news of her attack, her school transferred her to Kenyatta National Hospital where she was admitted to the ICU for five days before succumbing to her injuries.

Kantirro describes Margaret, the second born child in the family, as honest, hardworking and always focused on what she wanted.

She wanted to be a doctor.

Boda boda

She says she still cannot comprehend how anybody could carry out such a beastly act on an innocent child.

While eulogising her during her burial on Saturday, Mary Hill School principal Emelda Barasa described Margaret as a brilliant girl with a bright future. “It is sad that the dreams of this young promising girl have been cut short,” said Barasa, who also described her as a hardworking, humble and obedient individual.

Three people were arrested on Sunday in connection with the incident after speakers at the burial hit out at police for the slow pace of investigation into the incident.

The boda boda operator is among those in custody.

According to medical reports, the eyes of the girl were gouged out and sticks inserted in her private parts. Equity Group Foundation Managing Director Hellen Gichohi described Margret as one of the brightest students in the programme.

Role model

“This is a big loss as her hard work was a guarantee that the she was going to be a responsible and productive member of the society. We call on other girls to strive to attain what she had attained,” said Gichohi.

 Sekenani sub-location assistant chief Moses Kosoei said Margaret was already a shining beacon to other children in the community and described her death as a great loss to the community.

“Young girls looked up to her because she had set high standards in academics. She was a role model who others wanted to emulate,” said Kosoei.

But as her body was lowered into the grave at 1.54pm on Saturday, one question remained unanswered: Who did this to Margaret and will they ever have their day in court?