She recounted how her father stormed into her husband’s home, stripped her naked, and beat her mercilessly, leaving painful marks on her back and thighs. The humiliation of being attacked by her parent in such a degrading manner, she said, convinced her that her family would never allow her peace — even in marriage.
Her suffering, however, did not end there. According to her, her parents later broke into her house and emptied it of nearly all possessions, taking even small household items she had stored for friends. More devastatingly, they allegedly seized her academic certificates, including her KCSE and diploma documents.
Without those papers, she was unable to apply for jobs at a time when employment opportunities were already limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When she pleaded with her mother to return the documents, she was allegedly asked to pay KSh 250,000 — an amount she and her husband, both students, could not afford. She believes the demand was meant to frustrate her independence and strain her marriage, forcing her back under her parents’ control.
Despite her husband’s attempts to mend relations with her family, the standoff remains unresolved.
