- A couple who had been living a peaceful life farming and raising their child found themselves in trouble after being taken to court
- Musa Shija and his wife, Hollo Shija, had been living together as husband and wife since 2018 and had one child during their seven years of marriage
- Musa and his wife appealed to the high court, where they explained their relationship with their alleged father
A 32-year-old man, Musa Shija, and his 36-year-old wife, Hollo Shija, found themselves in serious legal trouble following their marriage.
Source: Getty Images
The couple was presented before the District Court of Maswa, Simiyu Region, Tanzania, where they were charged with having sexual relations and giving birth to a child, despite being blood relatives, sharing the same father and mother.
When did Musa and Hollo Shija get married?
The prosecution, led by Police Inspector Vedastus Wajanga, determined that the couple began living together as husband and wife from 2018 until July 30, 2024, during which time they had one child.
After a DNA test and the testimonies of 11 witnesses, the court confirmed, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the two were indeed siblings.
Magistrate Aziz stated that marriage between siblings is a violation of Section 158 (b) and Section 160 of the Penal Code, Chapter 6, as revised in 2022.
Did couple know they were siblings?
The couple was first arraigned on August 12, 2025, where they confessed to the crime and were sentenced to 20 years for Musa and 30 years for Hollo. However, they later appealed to the high court, which ordered a retrial.
The case was reopened in the Maswa court, and on May 6, 2025, they returned to court, where they denied the charges, despite DNA tests showing a 99.9% blood relation to the child.
In their defence, Musa claimed he was married to Hollo and had paid a dowry of TZS 300,000 (approximately KSh 15,788) and TZS 25,000 (about KSh 1,315) to her grandmother.
Moreover, the 36-year-old woman also maintained that Musa was her lawful husband.
According to the couple, Mzee Shija Kamuga was not their biological father, but rather just a neighbour with hostility towards their marriage.
However, despite their defence, the magistrate sentenced them to prison.
What did netizens say about court jailing Tanzanian couple?
Apronia Gerald:
“This power that the court has used here, they should have used it to judge others who are ruining our generation! Now, who will raise this child after the parents are imprisoned? Are you sure the ones left behind will care for the child properly? Or is this the end, and the child will end up on the streets? They may have done wrong, but the court should have also considered the future of this orphaned angel while the father and mother are locked up.”
Mrisho Kasala:
“I urge those who were witnesses in this case to fight for the child to grow up in a good environment and get enough education, not just provide evidence and then deny the child even their millet porridge.”
Mariana Mtenga:
“Then, who will raise the child? These are a man and a woman who decided to live together legally as a married couple. Why don’t they deal with other criminals?”
Source: Youtube
How did Kenyan couple discover they’re siblings?
In other news, TUKO.co.ke reported that a TikTok couple, identified as Kyle and Brianna, discovered they share the same father after being in a relationship.
The couple said they met while in college through a friend who pointed out that they resembled each other, and they decided to date after meeting.
After moving in together, Brianna was scrolling through her phone gallery and showed him a picture of her dad, only to realise the man was also Kyle’s father.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
