Hindi residents in Lamu want a rescue center set up for gender-based violence victims following increased cases of defilement and pedophilia reported in the township.
The residents’ petition comes on the backdrop of increased concerns by security agencies and activists who have raised a red flag over high dropout rates among school going girls and increased HIV/Aids rates among teenagers within the ward in comparison with the rest of the county.
According to court documents obtained by the media, Hindi has recorded at least 12 reported defilements and pedophilia cases this year, although social workers estimate that the figure may be much higher with many cases going unreported.
Speaking during a Gender Based Violence forum held in Hindi under the auspices of “Kwa Pamoja Tuzuie Balaa” initiative run under the 16 days against Gender Based Violence programme parents, guardians and victims of GBV expressed the need for a rescue centre in the township to aid tackle the vice.
“The number of GBV and defilement cases is high in Hindi due to the lax manner in which confirmed cases have been handled in the past,” Cecilia Wahuini, a local elder based in Hindi said.
She asked parents to stop using Kangaroo courts to resolve defilement and pedophilia cases, which she noted, are rampant in Hindi in comparison to all the wards in Lamu.
“Local leaders have in the past been turning a blind eye to these glaring abuses with some children often sent back to live with those who have repeatedly defiled them which in some cases are their own fathers, uncles and guardians,” she stated.
Hindi OCS Samuel Kamwara blamed parents, guardians and community elders for ignoring incidents of repeat sex offenders.
“We have cases still pending in court over mothers knowing that their daughters are being defiled by their husbands yet they keep quiet about it,” he said.
He noted that a gender based violence rescue centre within the township area would aid in rescuing young girls suffering the trauma of being defiled repeatedly with nowhere to seek redress for their plight.
Hindi location Chief Ahmed Mohammed acknowledged that Hindi township does have many unresolved defilement cases and called on parents, guardians as well as members of the community to speak out against those suspected to have defiled children.
“We receive a lot of cases especially of girls traumatized by their relatives or even community members of having defiled them yet very little seems to be done especially since in some cases it is the elders themselves who commit these crimes,” Naomi Wangeci, a local community social worker said.
Kiunga Youth Bunge Programme Manager Stanley Ndungu said that their organization would engage other stakeholders especially community elders, the police as well as the county commissioner’s office to ensure that defilement incidents end within the township.
He further called on political leaders to be at the forefront of addressing the defilement issue that has been a thorn in the township’s side.
His counterpart Noor Dahir further called on the judiciary to impose tough sentences for those found liable on defilement and pedophilia especially with the expected influx of people coming to look for work both directly and indirectly once the Lamu Port becomes operational.
Lamu Woman Representative Monica Marubu speaking separately stated that she would work towards establishing a GBV rescue centre especially around areas where the incidences are high like in Hindi.
Lamu County Commissioner Macharia Irungu said the prevalence of defilement cases in Hindi is being addressed, with chiefs directed to be on the lookout for kangaroo courts which he added lead to many cases remaining unresolved.
“Chiefs as well as the police are very vigilant over the issue of defilement especially in Hindi and Ndeu where a number of cases have been reported, however as the government together with the judiciary there are already precedents being set to ensure those who defile young girls and engage in sodomy of boys face tough sentences,” he added.
By Amenya Ochieng
