For three weeks, Mvone Okwaro had been working as a housemaid for a couple in Nairobi after travelling from Kakamega in search of work. She never imagined that the job would expose her to a night she would struggle to forget.
In August 2025, Mvone found herself trapped inside the couple’s house as an argument between the husband and wife turned deadly. According to her account, the couple were fighting when the husband suddenly picked up a panga and struck his wife at the back of her neck, causing her to collapse.
Mvone says the man then warned her against speaking or trying to seek help.
“Mzee alitoka kwa choo na shoka kadogo akaniambia, ‘Ukijaribu kufungua mdomo wako nawamaliza nyinyi wote,’” she recalls.
Terrified for her own life, Mvone remained silent as the couple’s child slept nearby. She says the man continued attacking his wife, hitting her again when she attempted to get up and later using a rope to strangle her.
At one point, the man ordered Mvone to bring him a knife. She obeyed, fearing that refusing could make her the next victim. The knife was then used to further attack his wife.
“Nilikuambia nitakuwa ukiniona,” Mvone recalls him saying as he continued attacking the woman.
Throughout the ordeal, Mvone says she could only watch in fear, knowing that any attempt to intervene could cost her life. After the man was done, he washed the knife and instructed her to return it to where she had found it. He then began cleaning the blood from the house.
The ordeal did not end there.
At around 3am, Mvone says the man turned his attention to her and threatened her with a shoka before sexually assaulting her. She says the rape happened on the same bed, while the body of his wife lay nearby.
Afterwards, the man left the house, locking Mvone inside. She remained there in silence until around 5am before making an attempt to seek help from a neighbour. She says the first attempt was unsuccessful, but after asking again, the caretaker was alerted and police were called.
Authorities arrived at around 6am to collect evidence and record statements.
The man reportedly went to his wife’s sister’s home before later leaving with a bag. Mvone says that during the woman’s burial, some women were allegedly sent by the husband to lure her away, raising fears that she could also be harmed.
The suspect was eventually arrested and is currently out on bail as the case continues in court.
A year later, Mvone is rebuilding her life. She is currently staying at a safe house supported by Usikinywe, an organisation helping survivors of gender-based violence.
For Mvone, surviving that night was only the beginning. Her story now highlights the fear, trauma and vulnerability that many survivors face, while also showing the importance of safe spaces and support systems for those trying to rebuild their lives after violence.