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| Kenyatta National Hospital where Shannie Atieno has been admitted (l). |
A 22-year-old woman is recovering at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) after sustaining severe injuries from a fall off the fourth floor of Jumeirah Heights on November 18. An illustration of a domestic worker. The victim, identified as Shannie Atieno, who was newly employed as a househelp in Kiambu, claims she endured ongoing physical abuse and threats from her employer.
How did Atieno’s employer mistreat her? Recounting her experience, Atieno alleged that her employer regularly beat her with kitchen utensils and other household items, leaving her physically and emotionally distressed.”Since I started working in that house, I have not known peace. I am constantly beaten with kitchen tools. Recently, my employer struck my head with a cooking stick, leaving a deep wound that had to be stitched.
I’ve been locked in the house, unable to seek help, and repeatedly threatened with death. She tells me she could kill and bury me without anyone knowing or facing any consequences,” Atieno told Citizen Digital. Medical reports from KNH corroborate Atieno’s allegations, noting that she had been treated multiple times for severe injuries. Atieno’s family is calling for justice and has urged the government to investigate the circumstances surrounding her fall, rejecting claims that she may have fallen intentionally.
“We want the government to investigate what happened because I don’t believe my sister could be so depressed as to fall from the fourth floor,” a family member stated. The young woman reportedly sustained a broken spine, fractured legs, and extensive bruising, further fuelling concerns about the alleged abuse and the events leading to her fall.
by Nancy Odindo
