A 24-year-old gospel artist, Mary Clare, is battling for her life after suffering a brutal acid attack in Nairobi, in an incident linked to her estranged boyfriend.
The attack happened along Ngong Road as she was heading home, leaving her with severe injuries. Clare, who is part of a Seventh-Day Adventist choir group in Migori county, is currently admitted in critical condition at Kenyatta National Hospital.
According to witnesses, the attacker, identified as Lucas Ochieng’, allegedly carried out the assault on instructions from Clare’s ex-partner. A friend who was with her during the incident recalled the terrifying moment, saying Clare cried out for help as the acid burned through her clothes and body. Members of the public quickly pursued the suspect, cornering him before turning on him in anger. During the confrontation, he reportedly admitted he had been sent, with claims emerging that a phone call during the chaos further pointed to a planned attack. Police later stepped in and took him into custody.
The incident has drawn strong reactions, with former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko calling for justice and offering a KSh 50,000 reward for information that could lead to the arrest of the main suspect. He revealed that Clare had previously reported threats to her life months earlier.