A section of women from Nyamira County on Sunday accused area chiefs of shielding perpetrators of rape from facing justice.
Led by Penninah Mokeira, a human rights activist, the women said five cases of defilement are yet to be fully investigated due to alleged interference by chiefs in the area.
Mokeira said the chiefs and their assistants needed to be put to the task of explaining the reason for delayed prosecution of perpetrators of separate rape incidents already reported to the police.
“My office has received at least five rape cases of underage children but cannot access justice because the local administrators are determined to prevent access to justice. The government has failed to help the victims despite having the core mandate of protecting us,” she said.
According to her, three of the five cases are from Bosamaro location where Mr Francis Monari is the senior chief.
“There is a chief who has defended three men from being prosecuted and he is well known. We demand that he steps down and face justice. Rape is illegal and the victims ought to get justice,” she added.
However, Monari denied shielding any suspect from prosecution when he spoke to HiviSasa on phone.
“Those allegations are unfounded and I am ready to face my accusers. I have never defended rape perpetrators and if I come across one, I will ensure they are arrested,” he said.