Sexual assault cases on the rise

Human rights groups have raised a red flag over increasing cases of defilement in Uasin Gishu County.

At least 20 cases have been reported over the past three weeks, the lobby groups said.

Centre for Human Rights and Mediation (CHRM) and Centre Against Torture (CAT) raised concern over the worrying trend, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic.

The lobbyists also criticised the use of home-based solutions presided over by chiefs. They claimed the administrators were setting perpetrators free for crimes committed against minors.

"What is more worrying is the growing number of defilement cases committed by government officers," said CHRM Director Nick Omitto.

Mr Omitto said the human rights centre is seeking justice for three minors defiled by assistant chiefs and two others defiled by teachers.

Sex offenders

“It is shocking that those charged with protection of children are sex predators. We used to deal with an average of two cases a month but in April the defilement cases rose to an average of five,” he said.

“We have established that the reason many parents do not report defilement cases is that they receive bribes from perpetrators,” Omitto said.

CAT Director Kimutai Kirui took issue with chiefs for protecting sex offenders by acting as mediators as it emerged that more than 20 young girls have been defiled and impregnated during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We have received ten cases of defilement in the past one month. Many cases are going unreported because those who should be protecting the minors are not helping them in their quest for justice,” Kirui said.

The activists pointed an accusing finger at local administrators for not taking action despite several cases being reported to them.