Suffering women: Harrowing tales of gender based violence victims

Makueni deputy governor Adelina Mwau visits Vata Benita, 29, at her hospital bed at Makindu level IV hospital. Benita was scalded with boiling water by her husband following a domestic quarrel where she sustained 65 percent of body burns. She is among the increasing cases of gender based violence in the county. [Philip Muasya, Standard]

From her hospital bed at Makindu Level 4 Hospital, Benita Vata struggles to turn, carefully but painfully pushing her bedding partly away to face her visitors. With every small move, she groans in pain, her eyes cloudy and sunken. Today, she just stares blankly at her visitors, weakly responding to their greetings.

An unmistakable foul smell emanates from her, and other than the medical staff who have developed thick skin to such situations, it is difficult to bear the stench.