Martha

Martha (4) was defiled by a man who threatened to kill her family if she told anyone.

Martha* – Nairobi, Kenya

Four-year-old Martha spent most of her time playing with friends near her home. One afternoon while playing outside, a new neighbor across the street approached Martha and asked her to help him with a favor. The neighbor then grabbed Martha, took her into his house and raped her. The rapist threatened to beat her if she told anyone what had happened and forced her to go back to playing with her friend.

Unable to contain the horror of what just happened, Martha told her friend that the man had “done her bad manners.” That evening Martha’s mother returned home to find her daughter crying. Martha told her mother the details which were later confirmed through a physical exam. Martha and her parents reported the rape to local police and later that day Martha’s perpetrator was arrested and taken to the police station.

However, a group of the rapist’s friends visited the family’s home and threatened to kill Martha’s father if the charge was not dropped. The rapist and his allies also tried to pressure the local police to drop the charges. Later, the rapist was released from police custody and immediately went to Martha’s home where he threatened to shoot Martha’s father if they pursued the case.

When International Justice Mission® learned of the threats and Martha’s case, IJM Kenya staff stepped in to represent Martha and her family. Martha’s rapist bribed, threatened and intimidated witnesses resulting in months of delays, but IJM stood fast. The perpetrator relied on a history of inaction and unaccountability in Kenya, that those fighting for justice would grow weary and discouraged and eventually walk away.

But Martha’s rapist and his allies could not contend with the forces of goodness that do not back down from threats or intimidation tactics. Instead of giving up, Martha and her IJM advocates persevered until Martha courageously confronted her assailant in court and the judge convicted and properly sent the rapist to prison for his crimes.

After the rapist’s conviction, IJM’s lead attorney in the case wrote, “In the future, when Martha is old enough to ask what anybody did to protect her, I have no doubt her parents will tell her that there’s a friend for little children who watched over their every step. We praise God today, as we feel honored to participate in such an act of love. Rejoice with us!” Today, Martha continues to heal physically and emotionally as IJM staff follow-up with care and encouragement for her and her family.

* In order to protect the individuals IJM serves and those who carry out the work, faces of sex abuse victims and particular IJM investigators have been blurred. To further conceal the identities of victims and safeguard ongoing IJM casework, pseudonyms have been used though the accounts are real. Actual names and casework documentation on file with IJM.