Kenya Sub-county Commissioner William Bett has condemned a shocking case of child defilement in Mogonga village, where a 60-year-old man allegedly defiled a 7-year-old girl before going into hiding.
The Grade Three girl was taken to Kenyenya Sub-county Hospital, where she is undergoing treatment. Medical and psychosocial care for the victim is being coordinated by the children’s office.
According to residents, the suspect is well known in the area and has a history of “spoiling young girls without being arrested by the police.” This time, however, the community has vowed to ensure justice is served. “He will not escape our traps this time round,” said a boda boda operator from the Mogonga stage.
Commissioner Bett decried the rising cases of defilement in Kenyenya Subcounty, terming the Mogonga incident a wake-up call. He warned chiefs, elders, and parents against settling such cases in kangaroo courts, stressing that defilement is a serious criminal offence that must be handled by the justice system.
Police have launched a manhunt for the suspect, who fled the village after the incident. Under the Sexual Offences Act, defilement of a child below 11 years attracts a minimum sentence of life imprisonment upon conviction.
Bett urged residents with information on the suspect’s whereabouts to report to Kenyenya Police Station or call Childline Kenya on *116*. He also called for community support in protecting children.
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The case has sparked outrage in Mogonga, with residents now working closely with authorities to apprehend the suspect and break the cycle of impunity around child sexual abuse in the region.
By Enock Okong’o
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