Man arrested by public for raping a Form Four girl

Butere, Kenya: Police from Butere police station have arrested a man suspected to have raped an 18-year-old girl.

The form four girl was going to school at 5.30 in the morning when the man allegedly raped her before neighbours responded to her cry for help.

She said the man followed her, tried to stop her but in vain prompting him to run after her.

"I was going to school as usual when the man stopped me but I refused. He ran and held me at the neck and threw me to the ground then raped me" recalled Jenifer whose name is withheld.

Residents of Butunyi village responded on time after they heard somebody crying for help.

The man referred to by residents as Chiema Omukanda was arrested by a group of youths after being lured by the girl's guardian Moses Mapesa who then handed him to police officers.

Jennifer also said the man had attempted to greet her the previous morning and insulted her for not responding to his greetings.

"The previous day he greeted me but I did not respond. He insulted me saying I should stop my pride for not greeting him yet he is from work," she said.

The man disappeared in a nearby plantation and chances of residents catching up with him that time were futile as it was still dark.

Her uncle, Jared Ambunya said Omukanda is well-known for his criminal records as he has been terrorising residents for quite some time.

He said he reported the matter to Butere police station and took his niece to Butere sub county hospital where medical reports revealed she had been raped.

"My niece left for school as usual, and as I was preparing to go to work,  my brother came and told me that my niece was rescued by residents after being attacked by a man they knew well" said Ambunya.

Justus Suchi the director Reach Children Organization which sponsors her education at Lunza secondary school, said they were forced to trigger the suspect before he was arrested by a group of youths.

"He was tricked to assist our staff Moses Mapesa to help him treat water in a nearby stream, he accepted and that is how he was arrested by a group of youths then handed over to police officers" said Suchi.

He said security officers and other authorities were taking long to arrest the man that is why he took the initiative to have him arrested by youths.

Omukanda is alleged to have had a criminal record in the past years.

The father of three separated with his wife some years back and stays in an extra ordinary house built next to a river with a hole inside.

Residents allege the hole is used as his hide out whenever he commits an offence as no one can attempt to enter it.

Omukanda himself confessed to having committed the crime saying police officers should not harass him because he had not killed.

"I have not killed, murder or manslaughter is a criminal offence but this is not a crime, do not harass me" cried out Omukanda when he was being forced by police officers to match to the waiting police vehicle.

The man now risks 15 years in jail as the law states any person who defiles a minor of 11 years and below serves life sentence, 12-15 years serves up to 20 years and 16-18 years is jailed for 15 years.