A 29-year-old woman from Kiambu is seeking justice after being brutally attacked by her lover. Nelly Wanjiku suffered severe burns when her partner, Simon Mwangi Maina, allegedly poured boiling water on her face and back following a disagreement.
The incident occurred on the night of August 29, 2024. Nelly recalls being on a long phone call with her parents when Simon arrived at her home. After a brief interaction, he went to the kitchen under the pretense of heating water to drink. Moments later, he splashed the boiling water on her face, causing agonizing pain. As she tried to escape, he poured the remaining hot water on her back.
In a moment of clarity, Nelly rushed to her baby’s nanny, instructing her to take the child and leave the house. Despite her efforts, the pain was unbearable, and she began to lose consciousness. Neighbors, alerted by her cries, rushed her to the hospital, while Simon fled the scene.
Nelly recalls that her partner attacked her after she refused to move in with him, choosing instead to focus on her career and advising him to work on his business. “He wanted to move in, but I didn’t think it was the right time. I told him he needed to get his finances in order first. I wasn’t pushing him away, but I didn’t want us to live together,” she said.
Nelly sustained burns covering 25% of her body and has been hospitalized for two weeks. She reported the incident to the Kiambu Police Station, and authorities have urged anyone with information on Simon’s whereabouts to come forward.
Nelly’s ordeal highlights the growing concern over gender-based violence. Despite the physical and emotional trauma she endured, Nelly remains determined to seek justice and prevent other women from suffering similar abuse. “I told God that if the pain I endured can save other women from him, I’ll take it,” she said. “His target was to kill me, but I refused to die.
