Maureen Matsili, a mother in Kibera, suffered severe burns after someone she knew poured hot beans on her during an argument about her support for President William Ruto and the Tutam slogan. The attack happened in the Nairobi slum on May 18, and when she reached the hospital, staff said the SHA system was down, so she had to pay cash upfront, leaving her family scrambling as tensions over politics and healthcare boil over in the area this week.
The narrow paths of Kibera were busy that Monday afternoon as usual, with the smell of street food mixing with the dust kicked up by passing feet. Maureen Matsili, a mother of four, had been vocal about backing Ruto’s push for another term.
Words flew during a heated exchange with a familiar face upset over ongoing protests about fuel prices. What started as shouting ended in horror when the person grabbed a pot of boiling beans from a nearby kiosk and threw it at her.
Maureen ended up at Kenyatta National Hospital with burns covering her chest, stomach, thighs, and private parts. Doctors noted her navel took a bad hit too. From her hospital bed, she spoke about what led there.
“It is the issue of tutam that has brought me here,” she said. Her voice carried the pain and disbelief many in her shoes would feel after trusting someone enough to argue politics openly in a place where opinions run hot.
Political Heat Turns Dangerous in Kibera
Family members rushed to her side and later shared their shock with reporters. Her sister Lilian Kakuli described the moment things turned violent.
The attacker got angry that demonstrations were happening while Maureen showed support for the government side. In seconds, the boiling beans flew. Lilian and others reported the case at Kibera Police Station, but they said no arrests had come through right away.
Her brother Franklin Matsili spoke with clear frustration. “If someone can be burnt like that without having done anything wrong, then the authorities need to step in. She is in great pain, and we are all deeply affected.” The family called for action against what they see as growing intolerance as the country looks toward 2027.
Police confirmed investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations are on the case. They are talking to witnesses and trying to bring in the suspect.
In Kibera, where Raila Odinga has long held strong sway, open displays of support for Ruto can spark strong reactions, especially during times of economic strain like now with fuel costs biting hard.
Area leaders have taken notice. Odhiambo warned residents in the area to make sure the SHA system is working before they start chanting Tutam or getting into political arguments.
His point landed with many who know how quickly small disputes can escalate when medical help feels out of reach. Stories of SHA delays have circulated for months, with patients turned away or asked for cash even after paying into the system.
Maureen is not the first person caught in this wave of passion turning painful. Recent cases, including attacks on others showing strong Ruto support through tattoos or slogans, have people talking about how divided things are getting. In the tight quarters of Kibera, where neighbours know each other’s business, a simple chant can carry heavy consequences.
Residents walking past the spot days later still pointed it out and shook their heads. One older woman selling vegetables nearby said she heard the screams that afternoon. People are suffering because of high prices, and when someone celebrates the opposite side, it ignites anger. But burning a mother like that? That’s too much.” Her words echoed what many whispered in the lanes.
At Kenyatta National Hospital, the family had to sort out payments when the SHA link failed. They pulled together what they could while hoping Maureen pulls through without lasting complications. Nurses moved between beds in the busy ward, attending to similar stories of accidents and fights that seem more common when politics and daily survival collide.