Man sentenced to 27 years in prison for imprisoning, beating and raping ‘Mama Fua’

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

The woman, identified only as “H,” was working as a “Mama Fua” (laundry lady) at the time of the horrific incident.

Njeri wa Migwi, a Kenyan human rights activist and founder of the Usikimye Foundation, an organization that provides refuge and support to victims of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Kenya, reported on X about the major breakthrough in the case.

The organization supported the victim throughout the legal process and never missed a court hearing despite the challenges.

“We went down this path with H and yesterday the verdict was announced. We never missed a court hearing, we accompanied them. He threatened us all. We carried on. 27 years in prison. That’s it,” the statement said.

Throughout the process, her identity was kept secret because protecting her privacy and safety was her top priority.

This enabled her to obtain justice without fear of further discrimination or harm due to the traumatic event she experienced as a domestic worker.

The verdict was announced on Monday, May 27, 2024, after a long and difficult legal battle supported by the local organization.

“Having considered all the above factors and the circumstances of this case as well as the time the accused has spent in custody, I hereby sentence the accused Simon Mwita Mwere to 27 years imprisonment with effect from today, 27 March 2024,” the court ruling states.

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

The perpetrator’s long prison sentence is a clear sign that such heinous crimes will not be tolerated.

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

It is vital that employers treat their employees with dignity and respect and that perpetrators of such crimes face the full consequences of their actions.

Usikimye, under the strong leadership of Njeri wa Migwi, has made some impactful contributions to supporting victims of gender-based violence and promoting change in Kenya.