Kelvine Omondi Jaoko, who is a student at Kisii University, Migori Town Campus was arraigned before Migori Senior resident magistrate Martin Wachira and denied the charges against him.
According to the prosecution,the suspect is alleged to have defiled the minor last week in maize plantation near their home in Oruba estate in the outskirts of Migori town.
The suspect pleaded not guilty to the offense and the court directed that he be released on a cash bail of SH200,000 with a surety of the same charges.
The case will be mentioned on 20th December 2017 and the hearing date will be set later on.
His arrest comes after public outcry after the family of the girl revealed threats against them by the suspect and his family.
The victim is an orphan who lives with her aunt Ms Christine Achieng, and Jaoko is a neighbor well known to her.
According to her aunt, the suspect met the girl on a path leading home on Friday last week, called her and dragged her to the nearby maize plantation before defiling her.
READ: Police Accused Of Soliciting Sex From 19 Year Old In Exchange For Release
Ms Achieng said she came to know of the incident a day after the heinous act had happened when she noticed the child walking with difficulty.
She claimed that the family of the suspected defiler had issued her family members with threats of abduction and dire consequences should she take up the matter to the relevant authorities.
However, she says she later gathered the courage to report the matter so as the girl could get justice.
“They (the defiler’s family) fear that revelation of the incident to the public will paint them in bad light and bring them more shame. Because of the innocent girl, I summoned the courage to report the matter. I want her to get justice,” she said,
A report from the doctor’s examination at Migori County Referral Hospital showed that the young girl was defiled. The girl was treated at the hospital and allowed to go home.
Ms Angeline Otieno, the officer in charge of gender based violence in Migori County Referral Hospital(MCRH) said that the case reached her office and the relevant P3 forms were filled to enable the family seek justice for the minor.
“The girl was closely examined by doctors who confirmed the girl had been subjected to the heinous ordeal. We helped the family fill the P3 forms that will enable them pursue justice,” said Ms Otieno.
She asked parents and guardians to come out and report such cases to the relevant authorities to ensure the perpetrators are exposed in order to help the victims get justice.
“The challenge we face in fighting defilement is that people, especially the victims’ parents and relatives, do not come out to report. We urge the public to work with us and the police officers to protect our children,” added Ms Otieno.
The health official further urged parents and other caregivers to be vigilant over their children during this December holidays as sex pests may take advantage of the minors.
Migori Police Commander Mr Joseph Nthenge cautioned members of the public not to hide such cases but to report and help the police in making sure that justice is well administered to the victims of the heinous act in the society they live in.
“I appeal to members of the public to report these cases to the police whenever they happen. This will help us deliver justice to the victims and stem the vice,” added Mr Nthenge.
Cases of defilement in Oruba Estate, that is surrounded by congested slums, have been on the rise in the recent past.
However, according to health officials and local authorities, most of these cases have not been reported due to threats from the perpetrators of such actions.
Besides, parents and relatives of the victims are said to collude with the perpetrators not to report the cases. The perpetrators are said to give out money to the families of the victims so as they are not revealed.
“Most of the victims of defilement in the area come from poor backgrounds. The families end up negotiating with the perpetrators on the amount of money to be given by the perpetrators so that the cases are not reported. Ultimately, it is the innocent girls who suffer,” said Ms Otieno of MCRH.
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