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The fad over foreign mates has literally seen Kenyan women push for a share even as horrifying tales of love affairs gone sour escalate. MWANGI MUIRURI revisits the issue following recent cases that have plunged these women into inhumane treatment abroad.
Last year, the disturbing story of Juliet Kavinga whose brains were blown off with a shotgun by her Swedish boyfriend filled the media, shocking many.
And following her death, family members, relatives, friends and well wishers were thrust into a fund-raising spree in order to have her remains flown home from Sweden. And as if that was not enough, even though the suspect was eventually arrested and arraigned in court, he was acquitted, leaving Juliet’s family crying for justice. Today, she relaxes six feet below the earth, blanketed in a heap of soil as she takes her eternal siesta in an Ukambani grave.
Recently, yet another victim and coincidentally, of Kamba origin, Janet Ndunge Kangu-Sheridan 27, suffered a near similar fate. Indeed, Janet is lucky to be alive. She is recovering from kitchen-knife multiple stab wounds inflicted by her ‘husband’ on the night of 4th December 2006 following a domestic quarrel at their flat in London. This disarmingly gracious lady born in Kavati Village- Kitui District of Eastern Province Kenya, was married, albeit in the come-we-stay-and see- whether- we- like- it arrangement, to a divorcee, Mr. John Sheridan a British National of Scottish Origins -and-note the age difference-aged 71 years.
But these cases are not isolated. Undeniably, an interesting social fuss is catching up too fast with Kenyan women who are now opting to get married to Western spouses in numbers. Perhaps a search for “unique husbands,” in every way different from the perceived “stressful Kenyan husbands” who are deemed not only as mean, but a number of them often financially insecure and love illiterate. And often, this in the hope of finally leaving the country to the presumed heavens abroad.
But the fad is not that rosy to the end. And the distressing revelation is that, life overseas sooner degenerates into a nightmare. But interestingly, even while these women continue to suffer brutality in foreign lands, far away from their families and eventually being transformed into beggars and beneficiaries of charitable organisations, they appear undeterred. The craze continually picks up-an animated scramble for these male Westerners, eventually screaming for assistance the moment they find themselves snared in a tight trap, often subjected to inhumane treatment at the hands of their sweet-turned-bitter sweethearts.
Just like in other similar cases, track records indicate that Janet met this man in Kenya where he had come as a tourist. After a one- two-three brief encounter, the man proposed that she travel to London where their love was meant to blossom, -an offer Janet embraced wholeheartedly.
On 29th October 2006, Janet arrived in London moving in with the man into a new flat in Old Street London. Yes, the whites are romantic - the couple immediately proceeded for a six weeks honeymoon! But the exact moment their love struck danger remains unknown. The kenyalondonnews only reports the commencement of “abuse and degradation” as soon as the honeymoon was over.
According to kenyalondonnews, Janet who was then admitted at the Royal Hospital London, as a victim of domestic violence, poses a unique plight. Lying in her hospital bed, she is faced with four magnanimous challenges: she is nursing injuries, she is starving with no food and no money, has no immediate relatives and the only friend she knew is now the “bitter heart” in the name of her fiancée and she is on a six-month visitor’s visa on which she can neither work nor enjoy State benefits.
The kenyalondonnews brand Janet as “the highest contender of the most miserable Kenyan woman prize (on record) in London today.” Her ‘husband’ is now in remand prison after he was arrested and charged for the near-fatal stabbing on Janet’s body.
Meanwhile, the First Secretary at the Kenya High Commission in London, Leonard Boiyo is assuming the fatherly role to Janet.
It is believed that the bitter pill Janet was forced to swallow in her “international affair” that lasted only six weeks was resultant of her spouse running out of cash. Exit cash, and Janet was introduced to a completely different side of her “loving” husband.
“He became grumpy and abusive always spoiling for a fight.” Janet is quoted telling the authorities in London.
She further testifies that besides financing her basic needs and life-styles, Sheridan routinely send about 150 pounds each month to her mother in Ukambani.
It is said that Sheridan was pauperised by the settlement expenses for his ex-wife since he was forced to part with his car, house and other assets.
Janet further testifies that Sheridan had suggested alternative money making scheme which she declined.
“He asked me to hit the streets and prostitute, something I laughed off thinking he was just joking until he came home with some scanty clothing apparently suitable for the job. That was the instant I realized he was not joking.” says Janet. “But I told him I would never do such a thing.”
Sheridan’s behaviour, Janet concludes, was a deliberate push to force her out of the relationship.” But I had nowhere to go with no money and no air ticket.
Her chronology of what transpired in the attack reads: “On the day, he was all over the sitting room shouting insults at me. To have my peace, I left for the bedroom, where he followed me. Without warning, he began plunging the kitchen knife into me. The first blow was in the back through the rib-cage. I turned round asking him why he wanted to kill me... He just kept slashing, cutting me on the lip, tongue, upper arm, on the palm and on my left breast. I yelled for help and in turn he was also yelling at me that he will kill me and then surrender himself to be jailed.”
Later, the same spouse phoned the Police who came in with an ambulance team. They found him kneeling down with his arms raised. He never resisted the arrest. The Ambulance paramedics treated Janet at the scene before taking her to the Royal Hospital London in Whitechapel. She says she must have fainted, because she cannot remember being removed from the flat. She came to in hospital where she stayed for four days.
The police gave her some money to take a cab home and buy some medication. However she was also made to understand that she is not eligible for social security benefits. There is more trouble for Janet Sheridan since her sole bread winner has been remanded in custody. Her Visa expires on 16th February 2007 then she will be expected to return to Kenya. The house in which she resides is to be repossessed for unpaid rent.
Boiyo is making frantic efforts to have her benefit from London based charities dealing with women especially those focusing on black ethnic minorities, in the hope that her miserable life will at least be reprieved. Boiyo has also ensured Janet has enough food to last her a few days before her case is considered officially.
So much and big a bite in the name of “international love.”
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