Minor defiled in West Pokot as women demand action

Women rights groups during a protest march dubbed “Keep off our panties”  organised by FEMNET

By WILBERFORCE NETYA

West Pokot, Kenya: As women rights groups marched yesterday over the defilement of a girl in Busia, another girl, a 10-year-old minor in West Pokot County, is nursing spinal cord injury at Kapenguria District Hospital after she was defiled by two middle-aged men.

The minor is said to have been attacked on her way from school in Sook division of the county by the two men who defiled her in turns before fleeing.

The men left her helpless in a thicket before good Samaritans came to her rescue and took her home unaware of what had befallen her.

According to Kapenguria hospital where the girl is admitted, she suffered a broken spine as well as dislocated hip joints.

The County Director of Children Services, Mr. Patrick Mogun disclosed that the minor was defiled last month and her poor parents did not report the incident until a well-wisher reported the matter to his office.

“The incident occurred in September but no one reported. We are working to ensure that the minor gets specialized treatment and she could soon be transferred from Kapenguria,” disclosed Mogun.

He pointed out that his office relayed information to the police who launched a manhunt for the culprits assisted by relatives of the girl and villagers.

However, when the suspects got wind of the manhunt, one is said to have committed suicide while the other reportedly escaped to Uganda.

Mogun said his office was collaborating with some NGOs operating in the region regarding the treatment of the minor.

Leaders have condemned the act as police statistics indicate a surge in defilement cases in the county within the past one year.

Deputy governor Titus Lotee termed the act inhuman as a couple of Members of the County Assembly vowed to ensure the culprits were brought to book.

“We have realized cases of defilement are on the rise and we will work hard to curb them. A lot of sensitization is required within the local communities,” said Lotee.

Data obtained at the county police headquarters in Kapenguria puts defilement cases at an average of about four every month.

County Commander of Police Mr. Charles Wasike said it was worrying that defilement cases were on the rise.

Yesterday, several women rights groups held a street protest to press for the arrest of suspects who gang-raped a 16-year-old pupil from Butula, in Busia County four months ago.

The women marched to the Jogoo House office of the Inspector General of police David Kimaiyo to present to him a petition signed by more than a million people, calling for the arrest of the suspects. The march dubbed “Keep off our panties” was organized by the African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) and Avaaz among others.