Father arrested for ‘defiling’ daughter

By LAWRENCE ALURU

Siaya, KENYA: Police in Siaya County have arrested a man for allegedly defiling his nine-year-old daughter.

The 32-year-old was caught by neighbours who have been suspicious of him at 1pm when they noticed he closed the door after the minor went home for lunch at Sirembe sub-location in Gem.

North West Chief Barack Opondo said the neighbours broke into the house, only to find the man in the heinous act.

Opondo said the neighbours handed him to Sirembe’s assistant chief.

The chief said the suspect, whose wife died early last year leaving him with two children, has been defiling the daughter for some time.

Gem OCPD Wambua Mutiso said the suspect was in police custody and would be arraigned in court today.

Mutiso said they took the minors to a children’s orphanage in the area since they were reportedly being mistreated by their grandmother left to take care of them while in their father’s custody.

“We noticed that the granny had started to mistreat the girl, causing anxiety among residents who suspected the girl may be hidden to water down the evidence,” he said.

Fighting crime

The police boss said child defilement was on the increase and called on neighbours and parents to be on the lookout and report such incidences harmful to children.

If the court finds him guilty, the man will serve a jail term of not less than 20 years. Meanwhile, Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa has announced that he will give cash rewards to residents who make efforts to stamp out crime in his constituency.

Dr Wamalwa further pledged to reward residents who foster peace among communities in the area.

“Crime is an economic saboteur. We must use all means to stamp it out and give people the opportunity to participate in economic activities,” he promised when he commissioned Imani Secondary School.

The MP said insecurity discourages investment and retarded development growth in the county. He asked residents to embrace community policing to tackle insecurity.