A 38-year-old mother of six from Kakamega has opened up about a traumatic incident in which she was allegedly attacked by four men and left unconscious in a bush after attending a late-night disco.
Isabella Mati was reportedly having a good time at the event when a neighbour asked her to step outside.
Her relatives said she followed the man because she knew him and had no reason to suspect that she was in danger.
After walking away from the disco, Mati allegedly encountered a group of young men who seized her and choked her.
She later told her family that the men dragged her into a bush, where they sexually assaulted her before abandoning her.
“Four young men sexually assaulted in the forest and left me unconscious,” Mati reportedly said.
The woman was discovered the next morning in a weak and unconscious condition.
Her relatives said she had suffered severe injuries to her private parts, which they suspect may have been caused by a blunt object.
A relative who found her at the scene said only her undergarment was visible.
The family also said there were no obvious bloodstains at the spot where she was discovered.
However, blood was later noticed on her clothes, causing the relatives to believe that some of the alleged assault could have taken place elsewhere before she was left in the bush.
Mati had reportedly been visiting relatives and spent the evening dancing and listening to music. Her family said no one at the gathering appeared to realise that she was facing danger.
After being rescued, Mati reportedly told her relatives that several young men confronted her, restrained her and choked her before sexually assaulting her.
She is currently undergoing treatment at Cherangany Hospital in Trans Nzoia County as she recovers from the injuries.
The incident has renewed concerns over women’s safety and the need for stronger measures to address sexual and gender-based violence.
Women’s rights advocates have also urged authorities to provide survivors with proper medical attention, protection and emotional support.
The family said they reported the incident to the authorities and that the alleged attackers had been identified. However, they said no arrests had been made when the report was filed.
Mati’s relatives are appealing to authorities to move quickly, investigate the allegations and ensure that those responsible face the law while she continues her recovery.