officers from Kajiado North sub-county gender office have raised a red flag over the increased defilement cases in the sub-county.
A secondary school in Matasia area in Olkeri Ward is among the schools that have recorded a high number of defilement cases.
Most of the perpetrators are boda-boda operators who operate in the ward.
Gender officer Sharon Kimathi said during school half terms and holidays they receive large numbers of defilement cases.
She identified one school in Matasia which she said has many affected girls, it has become difficult to take action against culprits because when some of the victims are summoned to give evidence, they protect the offenders and are not ready to give information.
Some girls disappear with culprits and re-appear after some days.
In the latest cases, eight girls from the school were reported defiled and another one from a school in Oloolua Ward.
The girls are aged between 14 and 17 years.
Speaking during Alternative Justice System Workshop in Ngong the officer said it has become difficult to get culprits because the girls share on how to intentionally hide evidence.
In other cases, parents side with the offenders and do not want to provide evidence for action to be taken.
Alternative Justice System Kajiado cosmopolitan chair Dr. Henry Omae said called on school heads to organize meetings with parents and sensitize girls about sexuality, to reduce cases of pregnancies, sexually-transmitted diseases and keep girls in school and parents to seek justice for the victims.
In Kenya it is on record that 9,484 children were defiled in 2021 alone this is according to a report released last year by the Ministry of Health, the cases are higher since the Ministry’s Kenya Health Management Information System only captures those who receive medical care.
The law is very strict on defilement but corruption among some law enforcers and protection of perpetrators by parents who are also bribed by the offenders has denied many victims justice.
The law states that defilement of a child 11 years and below carries a sentence of life imprisonment while defilement of a child between the ages of 12 to 15 carries a sentence of 20 years imprisonment, those guilty of defiling a child between 16- 18 years old are jailed for not less than 15 years.
By Obegi Malack
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