Man suspected of defiling daughters had them on a rota – reports
Police say the suspect will be brought to court after a probe is concluded.
For the past year, a 50-year-old man in Tana River County defiled his two daughters aged 11 and 14 on a regular basis, the girls revealed to authorities.
In a revelation that shocked their teachers, the girls said that he made a duty rota that stipulated who would be visited on which night. Until his arrest on Friday, the girls had been living with their father who separated from their mother a couple of years ago.
"The girls were doing well in class but then their performance started dropping and we got worried," says Annah Bonaya, a teacher.
It was then that teachers decided to follow up on the duo, who appeared traumatised, by asking them questions about their situation at home and encouraging them to open up. For weeks, they did not say much, but blamed their declining performance on their parents’ separation and new responsibilities.
However, the pain became too much to bear for the 11-year-old and she finally opened up.
"She told me that the father has been having sex with them on a routine basis and that according to the rota, she was going to be on duty that night," says Ms Bonaya, adding that the revelation shook her, and that she had to call other female teachers to the discussion where they planned what to do next.
First, she says, they urged her not to share what she had told them with anyone else, and secondly, they advised her not to take a bath if she was defiled again.
Meanwhile, teachers at the school formed a team that would storm the home that evening to catch the father in the act.
Together with area chief Habiba Maro, they stormed the homestead where they caught the man in the act. He was handed over to the police and the girls rushed for medical tests.
Mother was not believed
According to Amina, an aunt to the girls, the man may have started abusing his daughters while still married to their mother, an act which led to their separation.
"Our sister told us so many times that the man was having sex with the children but we dismissed her because they had numerous issues and we thought she was just being petty," she said.
She noted that her sister finally abandoned the marriage, and that any efforts to secure custody of the girls were met with fury by her husband.
"She tried to save the girls several times, but the man threatened to kill her if she dared, so she would sneak to see them once in a while then go back to her new home," she said. The girls have since been reunited with their mother as they await justice.
When reached for comment, their mother said: "I have been vindicated even though I am torn beyond repair that it had to take this long and this much for us to find justice, for us to be believed."
According to Tana River Sub-County base commander Patrick Kafulo, investigations are underway as the suspect remains in custody.
"We will ask for time to investigate the matter amid further psychological tests ahead of trial," he said.
Mr Kafulo also urged residents to be vigilant and report sexual abuse cases, with or without evidence, for investigations and to save victims from mental anguish.
