22-year-old Joy Aoko, just like everyone who leaves their country in search of greener pastures, left Kenya full of hopes and dreams which she hoped would turn to reality in Albania.
She found a job in Tirana where she worked at a Cassino. However, her dreams of a better day would quickly turn into a nightmare after a vicious attack left her with multiple and serious injuries which landed her in a coma.
Aoko was found unconscious under the building where she lived in Tirana on August 13, 2022, and earlier reports allege that she fell off the building. The unclear reports surrounding her death led to street protests by activists in a bid to get closure justice. According to Ruth Aoka, Joy’s mum, while speaking to content creator Lynn Ngugi, her daughter raised alarm over continuous stalking by a casino driver and felt her life was at risk.
“She told me that a driver was following her and that he wanted to have a romantic relationship with her, but she didn’t want him,” she said.
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According to eyewitness reports, Joy Aoko was possibly attacked and raped by her colleague who was charged with the responsibility of dropping her off from work. The driver, after being named the key suspect, had this to say “I have known Joyce Aoko for about 3 months at the Casino at the ‘Sheraton’ in Tirana. I had an intimate relationship with her.”
He further added “On August 8, 2022, around 2:00 pm, I went to the house where she lived on Elbasan Street, near the Floërs residence. After spending a few hours with her, I decided not to continue this relationship”.
Joy had been admitted to the Tirana trauma hospital following a rape incident, where she had been receiving treatment for the past three months. She was flown back into the country, in critical condition on January 25th for extensive medical care at the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral & Research Hospital (KUTRRH).
She unfortunately succumbed to her injuries. Kenyans took to social media to condone with the family while calling on the government to out in place safety for Kenyans working outside the country. May her soul rest in peace.
