The Anchor June-July 2011

Alarm over  rising sexual

assault cases in Mwala

 Mwala district commissioner Ms Florence Amoit has expressed concern over increasing cases of child defilement and rape in the district. Citing official records, she said incidents of child defilement and rape had attained a worrying trend and vowed to ensure the culprits do not escape justice.

  She was reacting to an incident in which the private part of a two year old girl was raptured after she was ruthlessly defiled by a 28-year old man.

 The confessed bhang addict, waylaid the minor as she returned home from pre-primary school and dragged her to the nearby bush, forced in his organ inflicting serious injuries on the minor which caused her to bleed profusely.

 The alleged defiler was arrested immediately by members of the public who were attracted to the scene by the girl’s persistent screams and found him in the act.

 The suspect is to be arraigned in court after test results are sent back from the government chemist, according to Deputy Officer Commanding Masii Police Station Mr. Fredrick Ochada

  Addressing residents Ms Amoit recalled several other sexual attacks against minors over the past few months.

  During a recent children advisory council meeting, the Officer Commanding Masii Police Station Mr. Antony Mbogo confirmed the increasing cases of child defilement and rape in the district.

 ‘’such cases are frequently reported to us while others are not exposed after the parents are compromised with money by the abusers or their families,’’ Mr. Mbogo told the meeting last month and attributed the trend to breakdown of moral values.

  He cited the case of two girls from Kitooni village who were defiled and their parents compromised with sh 10,000 not to report the matter to the authorities.

Another incident of defilement reported to the police and the dc’s office is that of a 14 year old pupil of Syathani primary school who became pregnant last month after she was defiled by a 29 year man who lured her with Sh 50. mr Mbogo had said that daughters born out of wedlock were at more risk of sexual attacks by their stepfathers.

 Urging no mercy for child exploiters, the dc warned parents of minors who fall victim of such abuse against being compromised with money to enable defilers escape justice. She chided parents who colluded with sex pests to defeat justice.

She said incidence of defilement and rape must be reported to the police immediately to facilitate testing of fluid samples from the victim and the suspect to build up evidence for prosecution.

‘’Am aware that certain parents have in the past being enticed with money to opt for out of court settlement after their daughters were defiled or raped but that will not be entertained anymore,’’ the administrator remarked.

She directed chiefs and their assistants to remain vigilant and ensure such cases are reported to the police immediately they hear of them to facilitate arrest of the suspected abusers for fluid testing plus that of the victims.

She said delay in testing samples from both parties led to erosion of crucial evidence necessary for ensuring the offenders are prosecuted accordingly.

Ms Amoit said the government will not compromise on the protection of children’s rights and warned that law enforcement agencies will be alert on the matter.