Court hears how girl, 17, was stabbed by alleged lover in Kilifi

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A case in which a 17-year-old was murdered by her supposed lover on June 6 commenced on Monday, the day on which the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence started.

Farida Changawa, a Form 2 student, was stabbed in the neck, hands and arm by Lewis Kazungu.

Kazungu worked as a wine tapper for Changawa’s mother at the time of the incident, which took place in Mferejini village, Kijipwa, in Kilifi county.

He has been charged with murder.

Two witnesses, Rose Umazi—who is Changawa’s aunt—and Kinani/Makomboani assistant chief Henry Randu, narrate the events leading to the murder before Lady Justice Wendy Muchemi at the Mombasa Law Courts.

On Monday, Umazi told the court Changawa had just finished cooking the family supper at around 7 pm that fateful Friday when Kazungu, her boyfriend, who had been hired at their homestead six months earlier, called her for a conversation outside the kitchen.

“The two moved away from where we were and started talking. They talked for about an hour. Later, they were given their supper and ate,” Umazi said.

She said the two left separately but agreed to meet outside the homestead, with Changawa telling the aunt she had gone to pick up her phone.

“Then later, after about 20 minutes, we heard screams. Then shortly, Changawa came home rushing, bleeding from the neck, which had been slit, and a knife still sticking in it.”

Changawa fell to the ground. She was later taken to Kilifi County mortuary.

The administrator told the court he was called at around 3 am the following day by Safari Karisa, who informed him that one of their (Karisa’s) relatives had “killed his wife”.

Kazungu hails from Kinani/Makomboani—Randu’s jurisdiction.

“Karisa was seeking advice from me. He did not know what to do after they learnt what the suspect had done. I advised him to make the suspect surrender to police but he told me the suspect had disappeared and his whereabouts were unknown,” Randu said.

However, Karisa called again at around 2 pm informing him Kazungu had been seen in their farm and was threatening to commit suicide.

“When I went there, I saw Kazungu was still in shock. He was weak and shivering because he had been caught in the rain,” Randu said.

“He looked disturbed.”

The International Justice Mission said Changawa’s killing was not a love triangle but about “power, control and system failure to protect survivors of violence”.

“Her death is a painful reminder of the persistent and deadly threat of violence against women and children in Kenya, particularly in vulnerable communities,” IJM Mombasa manager Aggrey Juma said.

“Changawa’s story reflects the harsh reality that many girls and women face—where poverty, gender inequality and weak enforcement of laws create a deadly environment for survivors.”

The victim, who left behind a nine-month-old baby when she died, was a double victim of sexual and gender-based violence.

She had been defiled while aged 13 years and had been receiving support through the IJM and the justice system.

Lady Justice Muchemi adjourned the case to Tuesday when the third prosecution witness will testify.