Child defilement cases at an all time high in Busia

A large percentage of girls under the age of one and eight are still the biggest victims of rape in Busia County.

According to Mary Makokha, National Coordinator of the Rural Education and Economic Enhancement Program chair, REEP, over 8,000 cases of rape and defilement have been reported since 2002, with the youngest victim being 6 months old, despite the numerous efforts made to fight the vice.

Makokha added that above rape, girls are also getting married illegally at a tender age and blamed the children’s department for reluctance in their duties.

Busia County director of children services Aston Maungu, accompanied by Busia governor’s wife Judy Ojaamong, urged parents to take the responsibility of taking care of their children, adding that legal action should be taken against any abuse perpetrator.

Cases of rape have spiked in Busia with Matayos Constituency leading in the statistics followed by Nambale.

They were speaking during the Day of the African Child, which commemorated every year on June 16 by Member States of the African Union (AU) and its Partners.

The occasion is a commemoration to recall the 1976 uprising in Soweto and an occasion for governments, international institutions and communities to renew their on-going commitments towards relieving the plight of children.