The Principal children's officer in Kiambu County has raised alarm over an emerging trend in which sexual perverts were preying on children living with disabilities in the area.
Speaking at the children's department in Kiambu Town on Tuesday, Mong'are Mwambi said they had received approximately seven cases where children who were physically challenged were defiled by unknown people who were exploiting their disability to commit the crimes.
He said the sex predators were targeting the physically challenged boys and girls and expressed fears that the habit was getting out of hand.
“Children living with disability have become the preferred victims for paedophiles who are roaming in the region and we promise that action must be taken against such criminals,” said Mwambi.
He called for more measures to be put in place to protect the children living with disability whom she said were incapable of identifying their attackers even when the latter was apprehended.
“We have had a case where a blind girl was defiled by unknown people in Kirigiti early this month. The culprit knows she can never identify him even after he is arrested. We need to protect our children from such people,” he said.
Mwambi further said that most of the children were becoming easy prey for sex predators as they were often left at home while parents were away at work leaving them at the mercy of marauding criminal gangs.
“Already, a suspect is under investigations after he allegedly defiled a girl who has a hearing and speech impairment,” said Mwambi.
He said that such a victim could not even call out for help and advised parents to stop leaving such children unattended.
The officer further urged parents to ensure that they checked their children to confirm that they were safe after spending the day away from home.