Makueni Sub County Children officer Rasto Omollo has cautioned residents over failure to report incest cases committed against children.
Omollo said majority of the incest cases go unreported and are resolved at home instead of reporting the perpetrators for prosecution.
‘‘Parents of children who have been defiled by relatives shy away from reporting and instead cover up the cases,” he said.
The children officer urged the residents to report the perpetrators of such acts to the relevant authorities for prosecution and stop them from molesting children.
“When the culprits are prosecuted and jailed the children are safe because if let free they will continue harming the young ones,” said Omollo.
Speaking at the Mavindini market in Kathonzweni Sub County during the celebrations to mark The Day of the African Child, the children officer also asked parents to immediately report cases of defilement.
He said that cases that are reported late do not stand trial in court due to lack of incriminating evidence.
“Most cases are thrown out of court due to lack of evidence and we ask parents to ensure that cases are reported on time for justice to be done,” added Omollo.
The children officer called for collaboration between stakeholders to protect the rights of children.
‘‘Children protection is a collective responsibility and if we unite the violence against children will come to an end,” he noted.
Speaking at the same event Kathonzweni Deputy County Commissioner Kassim Mboso urged parents to guide their children for them to be responsible adults.Mboso decried the increase of indiscipline cases among students across the country and urged parents not to abscond their parental duties.
The DCC said the government had rolled out several programmes to ensure that children get education as their basic right.
He noted that the Elimu scholarship, Orphaned and Vulnerable Children(OVC) cash transfer, 100 percent transition to form one, free primary and day secondary school education were some of the initiatives that the government had rolled out to ensure that children get education.
By Roselyne Kavoo
