Man sentenced to 27 years in prison for locking up, beating and raping “Mama Fua”

In a significant legal victory, Simon Mwita Mwere was sentenced to 27 years in prison for locking up, beating, mistreating and raping his domestic worker.

The woman who was only identified as 'H' was working as a 'mama fua' (washerwoman) at the time of the horrific incident.

Njeri wa Migwi, a Kenyan human rights defender and founder of the Usikimye Foundation, an organization that provides shelter and support to victims of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Kenya, spoke to X to share the enormous progress in this matter.

The organization accompanied the victim throughout the legal process and never missed a court hearing despite the difficulties encountered.

“We’ve been on this journey with H and yesterday was the conviction. We never missed court, we accompanied her. He threatened us all. We continued. 27 years in prison. End” read the statement

Throughout the trial, they concealed his identity because they prioritized protecting his privacy and safety.

This allowed her to seek justice without fear of further discrimination or harm due to the traumatic incident she experienced as a domestic worker.

The sentencing took place on Monday May 27, 2024 after a long and difficult legal battle supported by the local organization.

“Having taken into account all the factors mentioned above, the circumstances surrounding this case and the time the accused has spent in custody. I hereby sentence the accused Simon Mwita Mwere to 27 years of imprisonment with effect from today, March 27, 2024,” the court’s decision read.

This is a significant victory for H and a testament to the perseverance of the organization that stood by him.

The lengthy prison sentence imposed on the perpetrator sends a strong message that such heinous crimes will not be tolerated.

This incident highlights the vulnerability of domestic workers and the importance of protecting their rights and ensuring their safety.

It is crucial that employers treat their workers with dignity and respect, and that perpetrators of such crimes face full consequences for their actions.

“Usikimye”, under the strong leadership of Njeri wa Migwi, has made significant contributions to supporting GBV survivors and driving change in Kenya.