Constable probing rape case accused of same crime

Past cases of rape as reported in the Daily Nation. Mpeketoni town residents protested on March 13, 2016 after learning that a police officer was caught with a rape victim in bed yet he was assigned to investigate the minor's rape case. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Fellow officers who spoke to the Nation expressed shock that their colleague had turned against the Standard Seven pupil.

  • The girl was allegedly raped by a motorcyclist within Mpeketoni Town in December last year and the case reported to the police.

  • The officer was Monday being held at the same station where he worked.

A police officer assigned to investigate a boda boda rider accused of raping a minor has been arrested after he was allegedly caught in bed with the schoolgirl in a lodging in Mpeketoni town.

Angry residents took to the streets on Sunday to protest against the behaviour of the constable attached to the Mpeketoni Police Station.

Fellow officers who spoke to the Nation expressed shock that their colleague had turned against the Standard Seven pupil, a victim of rape he was supposed to have been investigating.

The girl was allegedly raped by a motorcyclist within Mpeketoni town in December last year and the case reported to the police.

“We are shocked to learn that the investigating officer abused the girl, who had been raped by a boda boda man last year. The law should take its course,” said one of the police officers.

Witnesses said the officer was caught with the 16-year-old in a room at a lodge around 1pm. They had trailed him, having seen him earlier walking in the company of the pupil.

“We have been seeing the officer with the girl several times, and we decided to trail him. He tried to flee after we caught him, but we locked him inside the room. Residents even wanted to lynch him but some police officers who arrived at the scene urged them not to do so,’’ said Mr Charles Muchiri, a witness.

The officer was Monday being held at the same station where he worked.

NOT AWARE

When contacted, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations’ Lamu County boss, Mr Prosper Bosire, however, said he was not aware of the incident.

“No one has informed me about the incident and, therefore, I do not have any comment,” said Mr Bosire on the phone.

Lamu County Commander Aphiod Nyagah declined to confirm or deny the reports, only saying the law will take its course.

At the same time, a man has been charged with raping his nine-year-old daughter in Marereni, Malindi.

He allegedly committed the offence at his home in Karagoni Village on January 29 while the child’s mother was away.

The accused faced an alternative charge of committing an indecent act with a child.

The man denied the charges and he was released on a bond of Sh200,000 with one surety of similar amount.

Malindi Resident Magistrate Caroline Nzibe set May 19 for the hearing of the case.