Sex pests put on notice as crime rate shoots up

What you need to know:

  • Kilifi Police Commander Douglas Kanja told members of the Kilifi Gender-Based Violence Network on Wednesday that he was concerned at the rising cases but assured them that drastic measures were in the offing.
  • Mr Kanja warned police officers who failed to act quickly in sexual abuse and gender violence cases that they would not be spared.
  • Kilifi Gender-Based Violence Network chairperson Isabel Mwangi said if police failed to investigate cases properly, crucial evidence was not presented in court, resulting in offenders being freed.

Police in Kilifi County have vowed to crack down on perpetrators of sexual abuse and domestic violence following a report that the county has the highest cases of rape in the country.

Police said they would also work with Nyumba Kumi leaders and village heads to abolish kangaroo courts that are partly blamed for the rise in these crimes.

Kilifi Police Commander Douglas Kanja told members of the Kilifi Gender-Based Violence Network on Wednesday that he was concerned at the rising cases but assured them that drastic measures were in the offing.

A report by the National Crime Research Centre released last Friday in Nairobi said Kilifi leads the 47 counties in rape cases at 97.9 per cent.

“We have to act fast to tame this vice. I will visit all police stations in the county to speak to the officers on how they can stamp out the crime. A community education programme will also be launched,” he said.

Mr Kanja warned police officers who failed to act quickly in sexual abuse and gender violence cases that they would not be spared. He said officers will take personal responsibility for any case they mishandle.

The county police boss said from January 2014 to March 2015, 32 reports of sexual abuse and gender violence cases were made at the Kilifi police headquarters.

“However, some cases are not reported as people sometimes decide to solve them at the village level,” said Mr Kanja.

He directed division commanders to prepare separate reports on investigations into sexual abuse and domestic violence cases.

Kilifi Gender-Based Violence Network chairperson Isabel Mwangi said if police failed to investigate cases properly, crucial evidence was not presented in court, resulting in offenders being freed.

“Police officers are also members of this network but we are yet to see their commitment to end these cases,” she said.