Violet Kemunto, the lady linked to deadly DusitD2 terror attack in which 21 people died, was difficult to trace given her complicated lifestyle, a relative has told the Standard.
Throughout her life, she has been difficult to trace and owned three phone numbers which were known to her relatives and friends. Also, on social media, she's said to have owned several Facebook accounts.
In 2015 when she visited Gusii for the burial of her father, Zablon Kirioba, she is said to have been using the name Violet Omwoyo on Facebook. She would later change to Didgesupuu Omwoyo and then Didgesupuu Faruq.
Kemunto was a keen observer of her faith and would tell relatives that “there are a lot of gains in being a Muslim”.
The relative said that although laid back and an introvert, Kemunto loved the finer things of life and wanted to own a big house and luxury cars.
“She loved nice things and wanted glamour but was an introvert depending on the environment she was in,” said the relative.
The relative said that it was difficult to know that Kemunto was involved in terrorism-related activities.
“When her pictures started circulating, we couldn’t imagine it was her. And as we watched, the news we were shocked,” said the relative.
Until now, nobody knows her whereabouts but police suspect she might have sneaked to Somalia after the attack. So complicated was her lifestyle that nobody knew her whereabouts from 2016 to early 2018.
Throughout this period, she is said to have met one Ali Gichunge, whom she married and settled with at various places in Kenya and Somalia.
On the WhatsApp of one of her known number, she claims to be an Al-Shabaab bride. The former student of journalism was last seen in 2015 during the burial of her father at Nyamache in Gusii.
Her relatives back home saw her name on TV after three years of absence.