Stop abetting defilement, Kwale parents urged

Police in Kwale County have urged residents to refrain from settling sexual abuse cases affecting minors at home. Police Commander Joseph Nthenge said most parents settle for ‘out of court settlement’ for fear of getting judged by the society.

The commander said since the closure of schools due to the Covid-19 pandemic in March, they have recorded 34 cases but there are fears that many others go unreported.

He added that cases of sodomy and defilement are on the rise adding that in some of the cases, the perpetrators are family members.

“Cases of sexual abuse of minors are on the rise and what concerns us more is parents refusing to report them, especially incest for fear of getting judged by the society,” he said.

The Police Commander insisted that there is need for joint effort to eradicate the vice.
He called on teachers, religious leaders and human rights groups among other stakeholders to join hands in sensitising the public at the grassroots on how to handle defilement cases.

Denying justice

“There is a need for sensitisation because some people, especially at the grassroots, do not know how to handles these cases. Some even bath their children before reporting the incident thereby, denying them justice because they have interfered with the evidence,” he said.

Mr Nthenge reiterated the need to report such incidents to allow victims get counselling to help them cope with the trauma and get justice.

“Not reporting the crime is like aiding the perpetrator to continue with the evil doings because their actions go unpunished,” he said.

The police boss added that there are concerns that many students may fail to report back to school when they reopen as a result of teenage pregnancies.

“Teenage pregnancy, according to the government, has gone up since closure of schools. We appeal to the society to not allow these crimes to go unpunished,” he said.