Interview subject

Grace Githuthwa is both a witness and a victim of the single worst atrocity in the politically instigated chaos that followed the 2007/8 Presidential election results in Kenya. Together with her four children and a three years old niece, Grace had ran away from ethnic upheaval that had been precipitating back in her native home locale, and was hiding inside Kenya Assemblies of God Church, when armed militia zoomed down on them and set the church on fire. Although Grace survived and also managed to miraculously save her four children , her three years old niece Miriam succumbed to the deadly flames in front of her eyes.

Working title: How My Three years old niece Was burnt Beyond Recognition in Post Election Violence of 2007/8

Article type: Crime and Violence

Pitch

“It was on 1st January, 2008. Hundreds of people had flocked outside K.A.G Kiambaa church to shelter from the post elections violence that had just erupted in the vast surrounding Rift Valley region. Little did we know what was to transpire. Around mid morning on this chilly new year’s day, a large militia singing war songs ambushed the church compound. In great fear, we rapidly rushed into the church. Sensing eminent danger, we locked the door from the inside. To our suprise, matresses soaked in fuel were thrown inside through the church windows and set on fire. Heavy flames of raging fire blazed, consuming everything inside. Painful cries and wails filled the air as we struggled to breath amid the ensuing heavy and chocking smoke. In this brief horrific moment characterized by foggy adrenaline rush, I managed to rescue my four children through a window that everyone was attempting to escape through. As people continued scrambling, my helpless three-year-old niece was ripped from my arms as I climbed out of the window and thrown back into the vociferous flames by a member of the militia group. To date, I still get traumatized by the mere sight of fire. Many years later, Miriam’s unexpected death continues to cause me excruciating emotional dismay and the wounds are still fresh in my heart. So far, my zealous quest for justice remains unattended.”

Image source: Getty images

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