Judge Orders Exhumation in Ongoing Probe Into Refugee Student’s Killing

By : Mweru Mbugua 

A court in Dadaab, Garissa County, has ordered the exhumation of the body of Safiya Hussein Bilal, a Grade 9 refugee student whose death is under active investigation

Senior Principal Magistrate Evans Muleka directed a relative of the deceased, Hussein Bilal, to identify the exact burial site to allow forensic experts to conduct a fresh post-mortem

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) confirmed that the Chief Government Pathologist will oversee the exhumation and lead the second autopsy, with specialists from the Government Chemist expected to collect samples for further analysis

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has also been instructed to document the entire process, while the Fafi Sub-County Public Health Officer will ensure compliance with safety protocols

The court ordered that Hussein, or his chosen representative, be present during the procedure. Dr. Chweya Arthur, who conducted the initial post-mortem, is also required to attend

The directives follow the recent arrest of four suspects Shafa Bilal Sharkane, Abubakar Abdullahi, Halima Muhumud Mogow, and Zeynab Salat Samatar linked to the student’s killing at a school in Garissa. The suspects are currently remanded for 20 days as investigations proceed

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Investigators told the court they need more time to gather evidence, including DNA samples and witness statements, citing security concerns due to the area’s proximity to the Somalia border

The ODPP noted that murder charges are expected once new forensic findings are complete

“The exhumation is expected to provide crucial forensic evidence to support ongoing investigations and aid in the prosecution of those responsible for Safiya Hussein Bilal’s death,” the ODPP said in a statement

The case will be mentioned again on December 10, 2025