Acid attack leaves gospel singer in critical condition
National
By
Manuel Ntoyai
| Mar 24, 2026
A 24-year-old Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) singer is fighting for her life at Kenyatta National Hospital after she was doused with acid in a calculated revenge attack allegedly orchestrated by her former lover.
Mary Claire, a member of the Redemption Ministers Choral Group and daughter of an SDA pastor, was accosted by a hired hitman on her way home in Utawala, Nairobi. The lead suspect, Elvis Opiyo, a married father of two and fellow choir member, was arrested following a coordinated sting operation by the police and former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko’s team.
The harrowing incident occurred when a man, identified as Lucas Ochieng, approached Claire, who was walking with her friend, and splashed a corrosive chemical on her face before attempting to flee on a waiting boda boda.
In a chaotic turn of events, the rider abandoned Ochieng as an angry mob gathered. Ochieng was subjected to a beating by the public before being rescued by police, where he reportedly confessed to being hired by Opiyo to carry out the assault. He is currently being held at Kibera Police Station.
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Investigations into the motive point toward a spiralling obsession. Sources close to the choir reveal that Opiyo had allegedly financed Claire’s college education, viewing the financial support as a claim over her future. When Claire chose to end the relationship upon her graduation, Opiyo reportedly plummeted into a dark depression, unsuccessfully attempting suicide before allegedly turning his sights on a revenge mission.
“He couldn’t handle the rejection,” a witness stated. “He felt he had invested on ‘dry land’ and decided that if he couldn’t have her, no one would.”
The arrest of Opiyo has drawn significant attention, particularly after Sonko publicised the sting operation.
“Her only mistake was choosing to walk away from a relationship, a choice every human being has the right to make,” Sonko said in a statement. “An attack on Mary is an attack on our collective humanity. We must stand united: violence against women will not be tolerated.”
The Lighthouse Ministers Nairobi, the umbrella body for the choir, issued an official statement on March 23, 2026, confirming the immediate suspension of the suspect.
“We recognise that the individual allegedly involved is known to our ministry,” said chairperson Wicklife Oiro. “However, we wish to state unequivocally that The Lighthouse Ministers neither condones nor is involved in this act. Such conduct is completely contrary to the values, teachings, and faith we uphold.”
According to the World Health Organisation, the scale of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Kenya is high, with studies indicating that one in three women is at risk. The data further reveals that 30 per cent of girls and 18 per cent of boys experience sexual violence before the age of 18, while approximately 18 per cent of young boys remain vulnerable.
Experts point to multiple forms of abuse, including physical, emotional, and sexual violence. Intimate partner violence remains particularly widespread, accounting for as much as 61 per cent of reported cases in some studies. Harmful cultural practices such as female genital mutilation and forced marriage continue to contribute significantly to the crisis.
Analysts attribute the persistence of SGBV to deeply rooted social and gender norms that reinforce male dominance, alongside weak enforcement of existing laws designed to protect victims.
Kenya has, however, established a legal framework aimed at combating the problem. Key legislation includes the Sexual Offences Act of 2006, the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act of 2011, and the Protection Against Domestic Violence Act of 2015.