12-year-old delivers as 18-year-old herdsman responsible goes missing

The girl holding her new born, standing in front is her mother. [PHOTO: KEVIN TUNOI/STANDARD]

UASIN GISHU COUNTY: She gently rocks her little bundle of joy. It's a blessing that has changed the life of the shy 12-year-old Class Five dropout from Cheplabal village in Uasin Gishu County.

A promise of marriage, Sh50 and fruits were to her like nectar to a bee and she fell in love with an 18-year-old herdsman who is allegedly responsible for her pregnancy and consequent birth of the baby boy named Meshack Kipruto.

It all started in September 2013 when the herdsman would deliver milk to the home of the girl’s parents and start small talk with the minor.

Their friendship developed and the two were inseparable, the herder, only identified as Kiplimo, would later on convince the girl to visit him in his room one evening.

“I cannot recall the number of times that we had sex but it is numerous times. I would at times sneak out of school and stay with him the whole day,” she explains.

The minor confesses that she had no prior knowledge about human reproduction and that she would get pregnant if she engaged in sex. She says that all she knew is that only married people who had cleared school could conceive and bring forth a baby.

On her child health clinic card are her details and the most outstanding one is the word ‘pupil’ filled in the occupation segment and the referral Chepyakwai Clinic to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital’s High Risk unit.

The girl however, says her future is not dark as she is resilient enough and will conquer all odds. She is determined to proceed with her education. “I want to be a lawyer to represent those that their rights are infringed,” she says.

Her mother, 55-year-old Catherine Jepkurgat explains that she noticed something was amiss when her daughter started experiencing nausea and loss of appetite.

“I took her to hospital. I cannot describe the shock I felt when the results of the various tests conducted on my daughter turned out to be positive for pregnancy. She was four months pregnant at the time,” she says.

The mother says when she questioned the young girl, she identified the person responsible for her pregnancy. She adds that they reported the matter to the area chief and the search for the man was launched. However, the herdsman is said to have disappeared from the area and had gone into hiding.

“The chief summoned the boy as he had called some of his friends who knew where he had gone. He appeared before the chief and confessed that he was responsible. He was even accompanied by his relatives,” Jepkurgat explains.

According to Jepkurgat, after they appeared before the chief, the boy went into hiding again and has not been seen since.

The girl’s mother elaborates that her daughter’s situation has caused a strain on the relationships in the family as her husband is not supportive.

“My husband had even wished death on his daughter and does not want to be involved in any process to seek legal redress,” Jepkurgat says.

She explains that her husband has been quarrelling her and that he has stated that he wants her dead.

The mother however, vows to support her daughter and keep her grandchild. “It does not matter the struggles I will go through. The baby is innocent and must be accepted,”

Jepkurgat, who depends on odd jobs for a living, explains that they have named the baby Kipruto as it means a visitor in Kalenjin.

Eldoret South OCPD Nicholas Maina explained that he has not received the matter but once a report is done he will take action against the accused.

"We will swing into action once a report is done and the suspect will be arrested and charged with defilement," said the police chief.