Nearly two decades after Kenya’s 2007 post-election violence, the trauma continues to deeply affect Violet Kusa Okata, a widow and mother of two. Originally from Ahero and currently residing in Dunga, Kisumu County, Violet has suffered through sleepless nights for nineteen years following the violent death of her husband, Michael Okasa, in Kasarani, Nakuru County. Her husband’s body was interred without its head, leaving her family with persistent questions that remain unresolved.
Violet speaks with evident pain about her desperate quest to locate her husband’s missing head. “I exhausted every possibility to find it, yet all attempts proved futile. Even now, I continue to question where it was taken,” she shared. With assistance from a neighbor identified only as Kamau, she succeeded in moving her husband’s disfigured body from Nakuru to Vihiga for burial amid the widespread violence engulfing the nation.
The distress of arranging a funeral without a complete body remains a heavy burden for Violet. “Daily, my children pose questions I am unable to answer. Nineteen years later, we continue to endure this suffering,” Violet stated. Her now-adult children still grapple with the lack of closure, their existence overshadowed by unresolved inquiries about their father’s remains.
Violet now calls upon the government to reveal the burial locations of victims’ heads, enabling families to perform DNA tests and reclaim their relatives’ remains. “We have a right to the truth. Families must be afforded the opportunity to bury their loved ones with dignity,” she insisted.
Her appeal underscores the persistent wounds inflicted by the 2007 violence, which displaced thousands and resulted in numerous brutal deaths. For Violet, the fight extends beyond personal recovery to encompass justice and acknowledgment for victims whose narratives remain unheard. With each election period, protests and disturbances reopen her emotional wounds, reigniting fear within her home. “Every electoral season returns fear to our household. My children experience perpetual anxiety, while I reexperience the terror of that era,” she noted.
As Kenya anticipates future elections, Violet’s testimony serves as a compelling reminder of the necessity for reconciliation, responsibility, and healing. Her ordeal transcends her personal experience, mirroring a nation that continues to confront the specters of its history.