When Margaret Odongo tried to turn her head, the pain was too much as tears rolled down her right cheek.
It was the fourth day she had been lying in the hospital bed receiving treatment for injuries she claims to have sustained after being attacked by people she trusted to protect her.
The violent incident happened at God Rabuor on Saturday evening when the local assistant chief David Ayoki Owuor attacked her, she says.
The chief was intervening in a domestic quarrel between her brother-in-law and his estranged wife.
“The woman had earlier sent his son to pick some items at my brother-in-law’s house. We refused him access and he reported the matter to the [assistant] chief,” says Margaret.
Margaret says the administrator, irritated by her efforts to intervene in the matter, attacker her and other family members with a club.
“The assistant chief hit me with a club till it broke. He started attacking my sister-in-law before he turned on me when I asked why he was beating us,” says Margaret.
SLAPPED
Margaret says her ordeal only got worse after her efforts to seek assistance at Chemelil police post were met with hostility when the OCS allegedly slapped her and ordered his officers to lock her up.
“At police station when I explained my grievances, the OCS slapped me and ordered for my detention. I remember hearing the voice of the assistant chief at the police post,” says the 54-year-old woman.
Later, after OCS left one of the police officers released her after realising she was injured.
“After my release, I called my husband who took me to Muhoroni Sub-County Hospital for treatment,” said says Margaret.
Geoffrey Odongo, her husband, said police officer released his wife to get medical attention.
“I found my wife in bad state. She had severe head injuries and her left eye was swollen. I had to rush her to the hospital,” says Geoffrey.
Zebediah Ombija, a clinical officer at Muhoroni Sub-County Hospital, says Margaret arrived at the hospital with multiple cut wounds on the head, and injured left eye and left jaw.
“On admission she was unable to talk and her face was swollen. Her left shoulder was dislocated. We are preparing her for referral for X-ray and probably see a thermologist to check her left eye which is swollen,” says Ombija.
Muhoroni Police boss Mohammed Jarso confirmed the assistant chief assaulted Margaret but says it was in self-defence.
Mr Jarso claims Margaret’s husband and other family members attack the assistant chief, forcing him to defend himself.
“I am not aware that the victim was attacked at the police cell by the OCS [but] an investigation is ongoing,” says Jarso.