Cases of defiling minors in Mumoni sub county, Kitui have been on the rise as locals plead with the local administration to step in.
Mary Kavute Kilonzo, a local from Ngungani location in Mumoni sub county said that on 13th this month, her 14 year-old daughter had been left alone in the homestead as the other family members had attended a function at their neighbor’s house.
As the function was ongoing, Kavute noticed people gathering in small groups and talking in low tones. When she asked what was happening, no one told her.
Minutes later, she received a call from one of her family members asking her to hurriedly rush to the house.
Upon reaching there, she found her standard seven daughter in tears and the clothes she was wearing were full of blood.
“I found her crying and the man who had defiled her was there who admitted to have committed the offense,” recalled Kavute.
They informed the police who arrested the man but since then Kavute claimed the case has not been taken to the court.
“The perpetrator has been sighted moving around meaning he was released without our knowledge and I urge the government to intervene and arrest such persons who are spoiling our girl’s future,” urged Kavute.
Rachael Mutindi, not her real name said she was washing her clothes at home after she had been left alone and a man who was working in a nearby farm came to their homestead.
“He sat for almost five minutes without talking to me before coming to where I was washing my clothes from,” recalled Mutindi.
She said he then offered her two hundred shillings and when she refused to take the cash, he raped her. “I tried to resist but he overpowered me and raped me!” recalled Mutindi in tears.
In a similar incident, Mary Mwania, not her real name said her daughter in standard six came home crying three weeks ago and told her she had been raped. “My daughter said she had been offered a boda boda lift by some youths who are our neighbors and when they got to a thicket one boy left with the motorbike leaving the other with my daughter where he raped her,” said Mary.
She added that he offered her 400 shillings after the act and she refused telling the man she would report him. Three weeks later, the perpetrator has not been arrested after reporting as they have not also been informed on his arrest or meeting in the court.
She urged the government to intercede as their daughters are in grave danger and there seem to be laxity in both the police force and local administration.
Peter Muthui, a local pastor in the area castigated the local administration and the police force urging them to be more vigilant as most defilement cases have been reported but less action is taken.