The individual involved, identified as Simon Muita, reportedly confined H.M inside his residence and subjected her to a night of sexual assault before she eventually managed to escape.
During this horrifying ordeal, H.M’s safety was threatened by Simon Muita, who held a knife against her throat. He menacingly informed her that he had previously killed two other women and she would be the third victim if she did not comply with his demands.
On August 15, 2021, H.M, a 35-year-old woman who also earns a living by selling njugu/Ringo’s and doing laundry, experienced a life-altering incident. Simon Muita approached her under the pretense of being a customer, stating that his wife was ill and they had a substantial amount of laundry to be done.
After arriving at his residence, Simon Muita locked H.M inside and proceeded to assault her throughout the entire night, while persistently brandishing a knife at her throat. As a result, she sustained scratches, bruises, and swelling all over her body.
When H.M managed to escape, she discovered that the people in the building had been falsely informed that she had stolen Simon Muita’s phone. Consequently, she was forcefully taken back to his house and subjected to further acts of sexual violence. Simon Muita threatened her, asserting that he had already murdered two women and she would suffer the same fate if she did not comply with his demands. The following day, she was forcibly expelled from the premises, and Simon Muita stole her phone and the meager amount of cash she possessed.
Subsequently, H.M sought assistance from Usikimye’s offices, where she received support in her quest for justice. Initially, the police had denied her aid and requested a bribe of 5,000 Shillings before providing any assistance.
Below is the verbatim account provided by H.M, as narrated by Usikimye:
“H.M., a 35-year-old woman who earns a living selling njugu/Ringo’s and doing laundry. On August 15, a man pretending to be a customer persuaded her to accompany him to wash clothes, claiming that his wife was unwell and they had an overwhelming amount of laundry.
Upon arriving at his residence, he locked her inside and subjected her to rape throughout the entire night while holding a knife against her throat. As a result, she suffered numerous scratches, bruises, and swelling all over her body.
When H.M. managed to escape, the residents of the building had been falsely informed that she had stolen the assailant’s phone. Consequently, she was forcibly returned to the house and subjected to ongoing acts of sexual assault.
The perpetrator threatened her, revealing that he had already murdered two women and she would meet the same fate if she did not comply. The following day, she was forcibly expelled from the premises, with the assailant stealing her phone and the limited cash she possessed.
On that very day, she sought assistance from our office, where she received the necessary support to seek medical care for the post-rape trauma and report the incident to the police. Unfortunately, when H.M. inquired about the progress of the perpetrator’s arrest, she was informed that she needed to pay 5,000 Shillings, an amount she did not have. Consequently, no action was taken until she returned to our office, and with the assistance of the police, we located and apprehended the perpetrator at his residence.
Tomorrow, we will face her rapist in court. It has taken three months to attain justice, but tomorrow H.M. will have her day in court.
Tomorrow, Simon Muita, the alleged rapist, will be charged under the Sexual Offences Act 2006, specifically under acts 3
