A 15-year-old girl who was reportedly defiled by a boda-boda operator. [Photo/The Star]
Cases of defilement in Nakuru Town West Sub County are rising at an alarming rate, the Kenya Police Service has noted.
The Officer in charge of Gender-Based Violence at Kaptembwa Police Station, Beth Kamau said her office was currently handling 60 cases that were before local courts and was investigating more than 20 similar ones.
“We have successfully prosecuted 12 cases out of which seven suspects were sentenced to life imprisonment. Our statistics portray a worrying trend that the sexual offenses against minors and women are escalating,” said Ms Kamau.
A recent report by the Judiciary also highlighted the worrying levels of the vice, noting that a total of 13,828 cases had been filed in the courts in 2013 and 2014.
“In most cases police officers and prosecutors find themselves appearing alone before courts without evidence, especially when affected victims and their relatives are gullibly compromised by the perpetrators of this heinous act,” added Mrs Kamau.
She appealed to schools, churches, women and youth leaders and other stakeholders to help security agencies root out the vice in the Sub County by creating awareness among locals on the importance of reporting and providing evidence before the courts whenever such incidences occurred.