NAIROBI, Kenya (AX) — “The sorrow of a father knows no bounds when faced with the unthinkable.” That’s how one could describe the heartache of Abdi Moalin Nur, whose daughter, Deka Abdinoor Qorane, became a victim of a grisly crime. Deka’s dismembered remains were heartbreakingly discovered near Nairobi’s Langata Cemetery, leaving her family grappling with unimaginable grief. Her suspected killer, a man now associated with a string of savage murders targeting Somali women in Kenya, brings Nur’s nightmare into sharp, painful focus.
In October, a wave of dread swept through Deka’s family when she failed to return home. Sadly, their worst fears were confirmed on October 31, when Kenyan authorities found her body. Hashim Dhaqane Muhumed, already in the authorities’ hold for horrific crimes, is believed to be behind this atrocity.
Nur recently spoke to the BBC, shedding light on who Deka was—a vibrant woman full of ambition. Freshly graduated from medical school, she was on the brink of her first professional steps. “She was so hardworking,” he expressed with palpable sadness. “We were all eager to see her flourish in her career, yet we are left with only her absence.”
The weight of his words is undeniable as he recounts Deka’s life, reflecting on her upbringing in Mandera before she ventured to Nairobi for her education. From her earliest days, education was her focus, and her family stood behind her. “We envisioned her bringing pride and harmony to us,” Nur shared, “But destiny had a cruel twist.”
The alleged murderer, Hashim Dhaqane Muhumed, was not a stranger—it gets more chilling. He was once an acquaintance through distant clan connections. Abdi Moalin Nur couldn’t fathom that a person they knew could turn into a harbinger of death. “We perceived him like family,” said Mr. Qorane, grappling with both betrayal and loss.
Justice now seems to be the family’s beacon of hope. “We wait, hoping justice catches up with those at fault,” Nur expressed resignedly. His plea is for accountability, his trust, however hesitant, lies in the justice system’s hands.
In what can only be described as a wrenching turn of events, Muhumed, reputedly an ex-cop from Ethiopia, was detained last month after an intense search operation. A crucial discovery came from surveillance footage that showed Muhumed leaving a Lavington residence just days prior to Deka’s body being recovered. He was seen carrying hefty bags believed to contain Deka’s remains, painting a grim picture of a serial offender with a knack for eluding law enforcement.
The urgency of justice is echoed by Kenyan officials. “He was implicated before,” stated DCI Director Amin Mohamed, referencing Muhumed’s alleged involvement in three prior Eastleigh murders. Those assassinations, tragic and horrifying, involved Somali women—Waris Daud, her child Amina Abdirashid, and a niece Nuseiba Dahir. Found brutally mutilated, their bodies last month stretched across Nairobi and Machakos. The details of strangulation, stabbing, and in Nuseiba’s tragic case, signs of sexual abuse, underscored the violence’s heinous nature.
More evidence binds Muhumed to his alleged spree—a Nissan Note, caught on CCTV, betrayed his movements and proximity to the crime scenes. Forensic checks exposed traces of blood and fibers tied to the victims, deepening the chilling saga of murders that have haunted recent memory in Nairobi.
The Somali enclave in Nairobi is shaken to its core. Fear grips the community, with many suspecting a targeted escalation against Somali women. The pain resonates further as cases of high-profile disappearances, like Somali-Kenyan politician Yusuf Hussein Ahmed, also surface. His tortured body was found weeks after his September abduction, further amplifying safety fears. “We are living in fear. Who protects our women?” questioned Sumeya Noor, connected to the Eastleigh victims.
The cries for protection aren’t limited to personal pleas. They echo in the corridors of political and human rights spheres. Calls resonate for immediate government action against this alarming femicide rise. Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna called these acts part of a “horrifying reality” underscoring the heightened risk for women in the region. “When such crimes stay unresolved, nobody feels secure,” he emphasized.
Deka’s tragic end and the surrounding brutality demand swift and decisive response strategies to counter gender-based violence. Advocacy groups, like the Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya), have vociferously condemned these acts, pressing for urgent reforms and protective measures for women. “This violence must end. Women deserve safety now,” declared Christine Kungu, leader at FIDA.
Investigations continue under Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations, exploring if Muhumed operated in isolation or had accomplices. He is being scrutinized for potential links to unsolved murders, suggesting deeper layers to the ongoing investigation. Law enforcement, mindful of the case’s complexity, is determined to pursue truth and justice vehemently.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
