Alarm as defilement cases rise in Embu

Pupils from various schools participate in a procession during the Day of African Child celebrations in Embu County.

More than 80 cases of defilement, sodomy and abuse of children were reported in Embu County in a span of four months late last year.

According to the children’s department, the 80 cases were reported between July and December with abuse, both psychological and physical, and defilements the most common.

Children stakeholders have raised alarm that the number has increased this year with the most recent being a sodomy case last week where the offender has already been charged in court.

Last week still, Paul Mureithi, 40, was sentenced to 105 year’s imprisonment after a court found him guilty of sodomising three boys aged between nine and 10 years in Kanjau village, Embu West sub-county in May last year.

In another ugly incident two weeks ago, an eight-year-old girl from Kithimu area, Embu West was defiled and murdered with residents concerned since no arrest has been made. In the same village last week, a 90-year-old granny was raped and murdered with police so far having not traced a suspect.

In some cases, even minders of children turn out to be preys.  Early last month, a teacher was caught in a lodging with a Kangaru Girls student as she was sent home to collect school fees.

County Children Services officer Peter Muchai says defilement says the cases are higher in Mbeere region where girls get married off to miraa farmers and sand harvesters due to high poverty levels.

Muchai says they are working closely with the police, national government coordinators at the grassroots and education officials to arrest those marrying off the young girls.

“Most of the cases in remote areas go unreported as the family of the victims do not understand the judicial system as well as the rights of their children,” he said.

He said cases that involve relatives and close family friends go unreported or are settled within the family level, a situation that traumatizes the children with others forced to flee from their homes or get married off at a young age.

Embu County Commissioner Esther Maina has already issued a warning to families against settling defilement matters at family level, revealing several parents have been arrested for abetting defilement of their children.

Muchai says the department together with volunteer children officers and national government coordinators had enhanced reporting mechanisms with to make sure those who commit the crime and their accomplices are arrested.

He, however, says they faced challenges with the courts where suspects are released on bond and once free, end up committing the offense again.

“At other times, witnesses fail to appear in court to give evidence. The case ends up being dismissed and the suspect freed. The suspects will not fear committing the offence again,” he said.

Embu County Police Commander Cyrus Gichunge says they have intensified intelligence to arrest those perpetrating the vice by settling such cases out of court.

 “In some cases families of victims don’t know how to secure evidence, while in other instances, investigating officers don’t know how to package the evidence. Witnesses also fail to appear in court and thus we end up having weak cases that cannot incriminate. We urge witnesses to cooperate with investigators,” he said.