Ngong Road: Woman attacked with acid recounts terrifying ordeal that left her hospitalised

The woman whose acid attack on Ngong Road went viral earlier this year has opened up about the terrifying ordeal that left her with severe burns and forced her to spend weeks in hospital.

Speaking in an interview aired by a local TV station on Sunday, June 28, 2026, Claire Ochieng recounted how what began as a romantic relationship, she claims, spiralled into months of intimidation, physical assault and, ultimately, a life-changing acid attack.

Claire said she decided to share her story to shed light on the abuse she says she endured and the long road to recovery she continues to face.

Relationship ended

Claire said she met a man in 2019, before the two began dating in 2022.

She explained that she later discovered he was married, prompting her to end the relationship despite his repeated attempts to persuade her to stay.

“Two years and a few months later, I realised he was truly married. When I confronted him, he denied it. In April, I decided to quit the relationship completely,” she said.

According to Claire, ending the relationship did not sit well with him. She claimed he continued pursuing her even after she relocated from Umoja in an effort to avoid him.

She further claimed that in January 2026, he offered to buy her an iPhone and give her money if she agreed to reunite with him, but she declined.

“There is nothing in this world that would buy my love for anyone. It’s something that comes naturally and is mutual between two people,” she said.

Attack recalled

Claire claimed that after rejecting his advances, she was assaulted on several occasions between October 2025 and February 2026, including an incident at her workplace.

She said the ordeal reached its climax on March 17, 2026, when she and her friend, Sarah Waitiri, were walking home from work along Ngong Road before two men riding on a motorcycle attacked them with acid.

“I felt something on my face and immediately started screaming. I told my friend, ‘I feel like my face is falling off. Please get me water.’ My clothes started melting on my chest,” she recalled.

Government laboratory tests later confirmed that the substance used in the attack was sulphuric acid.

Claire said she hopes speaking publicly about her experience will encourage victims of abuse to seek help early and raise awareness about the devastating consequences of gender-based violence.

You might also like

Love & Relationships

5 questions to ask yourself before dating someone much older

Celebrity

Mkamburi Chigogo explains why women should reveal their financial struggles to men early