Six youths in gang rape case ‘still free’

Police in Busia are yet to arrest six young men suspected to have raped a pupil a week after initiating fresh investigations into the attack that happened in June.

This emerged as the County’s MP Florence Mutua accused parents of some of the suspects of intimidating the abused girl’s mother to have the family drop the case against them.

“They are trying to push the mother through intimidation so that she doesn’t pursue the case.

“They are creating confusion around the case and propaganda to have the girl and the mother drop it,” said the Busia County Women’s Representative after visiting the Standard Seven pupil at Gynocare Fistula Centre in Eldoret Sunday.

The MP commended the Nation for highlighting the girl’s plight, saying, the case must be pursued to the end to ensure justice.

“Sexual violence against minors and girls, in particular, is so rampant in Butula and many families and victims are suffering in silence.

“This is has come out in public because of the media,” Ms Mutua said.

The MP, who has paid for the initial medical tests for the 16-year-old girl, demanded that local police explain why it has taken them long to arrest the youths.

The matter was first reported on June 27 at the Tingolo AP Camp and it was recorded as assault.

Three young men, who had been arrested by villagers, were asked by police to slash grass as punishment and later released.

Butula CID boss Shadrack Bundi said some of the suspects went underground soon after DN2 published the teenager’s ordeal last Tuesday.

“ But we are confident we will get them,” the officer said.