Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho has faulted Vihiga elders after they fined a man who allegedly raped his grandchild Sh17,000 and a cow.
Kibicho at the same time called on authorities to stop condoning traditional compensation for rapists.
The PS was commenting on the incident where a chief in Vihiga county attended a meeting in which elders fined a 78-year-old man Sh17, 000 and a cow after allegedly raping his six-year-old grand child.
“You are encouraging brutality by passing such verdicts," Kibicho said.
"Who gave you such powers? Don’t wait until I come for you, just come to the headquarters."
Addressing chiefs and assistants chiefs at Mbale Boys’ High School in Vihiga, he warned chiefs against taking part in such meetings in future.
“There is a big conflict in execution of the law. Defilement cases cannot be negotiated at a chief’s baraza. Let me not hear that a chief has engaged in such,” he added.
On October 10, Izava North Chief Zachary Mwangala received a report from the parents of the victim that her grandfather had defiled her.
The chief of the area told the Star that the elders usually make such decisions in order to avoid embarrassment.