Police raise alarm over rising gang-rape cases in Khwisero

Police in Khwisero Sub-county have raised alarm over rising cases of rape and defilement in the area.  

The latest incident involved a 15-year-old girl who was attacked with her mother and gang-raped by three armed men.

Confirming the incident, area Police Commander Mr Samwel Kogo said officers arrested two suspects in connection with the rape but a third managed to escape and is still at large.

Kogo said the victim, who cannot be named, revealed to detectives that the assailants used machetes to break into their home at around 3am and threatened to kill her if she did not keep quiet.

“One of them threatened to hack me with the machete if I attempted to shout and alert neighbours,” said the teen.

Describing the vicious gang-style attack, the 15-year-old’s mother said the men fled into the darkness after committing the heinous act. “I was dead scared that they would kill us,” said the mother.

According to the victim’s sister, the gang first ordered the family to surrender personal effects. “They told us to give out our phones and money, when we told them we didn’t have any, they ordered us to strip.”

Villagers, however, managed to identify and nab one of the suspects.

“The suspect led us to the two others. One, unfortunately, managed to escape but we know him well and we are looking for him,” assured Kogo.

The police commander said detectives were also investigating two other incidents where four schoolgirls were defiled.

“On April 7, a girl from a local secondary school was accosted and defiled. Four days later, three girls - from the same school - were defiled at a school compound,” said Kogo.

Police say the culprits could be affiliated with a local gang which they suspect impels members to commit violent offences while under the influence of drugs.

“We suspect that many smoke bhang because they are idle and have been taking advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions to target innocent girls and defile them at will, we would like to warn the culprits that it will not be business as usual,” said Kogo.

Kogo said the suspects will be arraigned in court once investigations are complete.