Husband Convicted in Landmark Social Media-Linked Femicide Case

MOMBASA, KENYA – A Mombasa High Court has found Murad Awadh Mbarak guilty of the murder of his 24-year-old wife, Nuru Ibrahim, in a case that has cast a harsh spotlight on the growing threat of technology-facilitated gender-based violence in Kenya. The verdict, delivered by Justice Ann Ong'injo, concluded a trial that detailed a marriage collapsing under the weight of jealousy, control, and violence, ultimately ignited by the victim's use of Instagram. The exact date of the verdict's delivery is pending confirmation, though news reports from Friday, November 21, 2025, indicate it was recent. Sentencing is expected in the coming weeks.

The murder occurred on the night of Sunday, June 19, 2022, at the couple's home in Majengo Kanamai, Kilifi County. According to testimony from multiple witnesses, including family members, Mbarak, a truck driver, had become increasingly obsessed with his wife's social media activity. Witnesses testified that Mbarak frequently accused Ibrahim of infidelity and bringing 'prostitution' into the family due to her presence on Instagram. This was compounded by a financial dispute over a debt Mbarak claimed he was owed by his wife's brother.

A Daughter's Testimony

The prosecution's case was significantly bolstered by the harrowing testimony of the couple's 11-year-old daughter, who was a key witness. She recounted waking up to her mother's screams of “You are killing me!” on the night of the murder. The child testified that she ran to her parents' bedroom to find her father beating her mother with a broken piece of a wooden baby cot. Her testimony provided a direct eyewitness account of the brutal assault that led to Ibrahim's death. Neighbours who were alerted by the commotion found the house locked from the inside. Police later forced entry to find Ibrahim's body on the floor. An early report from June 20, 2022, mentioned that two kitchen knives were recovered as potential murder weapons.

Throughout the trial, the court heard that the couple's 12-year marriage was fraught with conflict. Ibrahim's sister, Swaita, and a cousin, Salma Ahmed, testified that the victim had endured years of domestic violence and had expressed a desire for a divorce. Family interventions had been attempted on numerous occasions to no avail. Mbarak's own mother had expressed fears for his safety if released, leading to his denial of bond in a court session on Wednesday, August 3, 2022, where prosecutors also argued he might influence his children's testimony.

The Broader Context: Femicide in Kenya

This case is not an isolated incident but a reflection of a deeply disturbing trend in Kenya. The rise of social media has been linked to an increase in what experts term Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV). According to a March 2025 report by the Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK), the upsurge in social media use has been accompanied by online misogyny, which can escalate into real-world violence. This Kilifi murder serves as a tragic case study of this phenomenon.

National statistics paint a grim picture. A report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) noted 706 cases of femicide in Kenya in 2021. More recent data from Africa Data Hub cited by Equal Measures 2030 in November 2024, indicates that at least 500 women were murdered by their intimate partners between January 2016 and December 2023. Activists argue these figures likely underrepresent the true scale of the problem due to underreporting.

The conviction of Murad Awadh Mbarak brings a measure of justice for Nuru Ibrahim and her family. However, it also serves as a critical call to action for Kenyan society to address the underlying issues of domestic violence, misogyny, and the dark side of digital connectivity. As the nation awaits the final sentencing, this case underscores the urgent need for greater awareness, stronger legal protections, and a cultural shift to combat the escalating crisis of femicide within its borders.