All suspects perpetrating Gender Based Violence in Magadi, Kajiado West Constituency will be brought to book, Gender Principal Secretary Anne Wang’ombe has said.
The PS said that no stone will be left unturned by the government in searching for the suspects who have been raping women and defiling girls in Magadi ward for two months now.
Speaking in Magadi town during a community engagement meeting on GBV and the rise of rape cases the PS warned the perpetrators of the heinous acts against women that their days are numbered.
“I am warning all the perpetrators that their days are numbered. This has to come to an end. We are not going to have a country where people are living in fear and their dignity is affected. It is not going to happen at this time and age,” said the PS.
While calling on the community to practice community policing, she affirmed that the government will ensure rape cases and any other form of GBV will be something of the past.
The PS asked men to protect their women from vices and encouraged the women to speak up and raise their voices when raped as their voices count.
She urged area chiefs to ensure that rape cases come to an end once and for all.
“You are in charge of security here and are well versed with all terrains and locations. We are counting on you to end this as this is totally unacceptable. Get to know what is happening on the ground and ensure that all culprits are apprehended,” she said.
Kajiado County Commissioner, James Taari, also urged the residents to practice community policing including strengthening the Nyumba Kumi initiative.
Kajiado Woman Representative Leah Sankaire requested for the gender desks which are usually located at the police stations to be relocated to the hospitals for victims to be able to easily report cases.
She further requested the government to release the General Service Unit (GSU) officers in the Magadi camp for them to help in apprehending the serial rapist who has been raping and assaulting women and children in Magadi since December.
“Though many women are reported to have been raped, only seven cases were reported to the police. I urge the women to speak up so that they can get justice. It will be easier to prosecute the culprit too,” said Sankaire.
She said that health personnel from Nairobi are in Magadi to help all the victims.
“We are also organizing for sensitization forums to be conducted for all women to be informed on what to do in case they are raped or violated. We have also contacted FIDA Kenya to provide pro bono services for all the victims to get justice,” said Sankaire.
Sankaire, who is also the chairlady of the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association also urged the government to construct a gender court in Kajiado County.
Magadi police station Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Daniel Adongo noted that the station has so far received five cases; three for sexual gender based violence and two for defilement this year.
According to women from several locations in Magadi, the serial rapist, Olongui Tukai popularly known as ‘Lorgali has been raping and assaulting women, defiling girls and young children in the area since December and has never been apprehended up to date.
They urged the government to apprehend him as soon as possible since they are living in fear because the man pounces on his victims in their homes or in the fields when they are going about their daily lives.
“Since he is raping everyone, the chances of him being infected with HIV/AIDS are very high. When we imagine this, we are filled with questions and though we may not be suffering from high blood pressure or diabetes, we may get these conditions due to the stress we have been subjected to,” lamented Gladys Koitalel from Osupuko location.
“We are walking corpses. The rapist has terrorized us enough. We can’t even carry out our day to day activities in peace anymore. If we have to go and collect firewood, we must go as three women because if you go alone, there are higher chances of being raped. We urge the government to quickly intervene and apprehend the rapist before further damage is done,” added Koitalel.
By Diana Meneto
