Concern over increased cases of defilement

Children stakeholders in Ithanga Division, Gatanga Sub County in Murang’a have raised concern over increased defilement and sodomy cases in the area over the past one year.
Statistics at one of the local public health facilities show that 26 children were defiled in 2018, a number which might be higher given that the area has several health facilities.
Another eight cases have been reported this year, two of them being sodomy incidences.
Ithanga health centre clinical officer in-charge Lawrence Njoroge said from the 26 cases, two girls were impregnated and have since dropped out of school.
The two include a 16 year old who was impregnated by her father who has since been jailed for life for the offense.
Out of the defilement cases, the youngest was six years while the oldest 16.
The most recent case involved two mentally retarded boys aged 10 and 20 years who were sodomized after they were lured with cakes costing sh. 10 each.
“When their mother questioned where they had gotten the cakes from, they revealed that they were given then sodomized,” he said.
Most cases involved close family members who instead of reporting the perpetrators to the police, resort to resolving the issues at the family level.
Ithanga Assistant County commissioner Josphat Onchari said a number of the perpetrators have since been arrested and charged in court.
He said they were working closely with the police to bring perpetrators to book and ensure justice is served.
He warned parents found settling defilement cases at the family level that they will be arrested and prosecuted.
He added that they were holding sensitization meetings with residents on the need to report such cases on time.
By Muoki Charles