Pamela Aoko’s life has been a constant battle, one that started with a bullet lodged in her chest during the 2007-08 post-election violence in Kenya. Seventeen years later, Aoko continues to endure the physical and emotional scars left by that violent chapter in Kenya’s history. A mother and a former businesswoman, she now faces a reality where survival is her daily struggle, marked by the unrelenting presence of the bullet that has shattered her dreams.
It was December 31, 2007, when Aoko’s life took a tragic turn. At the time, she was hosting a “chama” (women’s group) gathering at her home in Lindi, Kibra, unaware that this day would mark the beginning of years of suffering. As she awaited her friends, violence erupted in the area. Amid the chaos, a bullet pierced Aoko’s chest, and she collapsed to the ground, feeling the sharp pain of a wound that would change everything.
“I lost my baby,” Aoko recalls, her voice breaking. She was pregnant at the time, and the trauma of being shot and the subsequent loss of her child has haunted her ever since. Her immediate medical needs went unaddressed, with delayed treatment and a lack of funds for surgery worsening her condition.
Today, the bullet still remains lodged in her chest, causing immense physical pain and triggering a host of other health issues, including thyroid problems, heart disease, and kidney complications. Aoko takes 37 pills daily just to keep moving, but without the medication, she cannot even walk. Her life, once full of promise and family support, has been reduced to a constant struggle for survival.
“I was a businesswoman before all this,” she says, fighting back tears. “But now, I beg for food to feed my children.” Aoko’s eldest child, who had excelled in school with a B+, is now unable to continue her education due to a lack of school fees. Aoko’s dreams of a better life for her children seem to be slipping away with each passing day.
The bullet in Aoko’s chest is not just a physical burden; it is a reminder of the violent aftermath of the 2007-08 post-election violence that left thousands dead and many others like Aoko physically and emotionally scarred. Gunshots were the leading cause of death, with over 900 casualties recorded during the violence, according to a Commission of Inquiry.
Despite years of suffering, there remains hope for Aoko. Doctors have advised that the bullet can be removed, but only after treating her thyroid issues. However, the surgery required to remove the bullet comes with a steep price tag of Sh2.5 million, a sum Aoko cannot afford.
“I pray every day for a miracle,” Aoko says. “I just want to live. I want to see my children grow. Please, help me get this bullet out of me so I can move on.”
Despite her hardships, Aoko has found some support through a former colleague who helps by sending her food and small amounts of money to feed her children. But the road to recovery is long, and Aoko’s appeal for help resonates with the many survivors of the post-election violence who have yet to receive justice or adequate support.
Organizations like Grace Agenda and Utu Wetu Trust are working tirelessly to support survivors of the 2007-08 violence. These groups provide medical care, legal advocacy, and psychosocial support to those whose lives were shattered by the violence. They also advocate for reparations for the survivors, many of whom are still waiting for justice and compensation for their suffering.
The plight of survivors like Aoko highlights the ongoing struggle for justice and healing in Kenya. Despite the existence of laws protecting survivors of gender-based violence, the implementation of these laws and the provision of reparations have been slow.
For survivors like Aoko, the journey toward healing and justice remains uncertain, but organizations and individuals continue to advocate for their rights and offer hope in a system that has often failed them.
