Shebesh, Wanga demand justice as they visit 13-year-old rape victim

Chief Administrative Secretary Rachel Shebesh and Homa Bay County Woman Representative Gladys Wanga on Friday condemned an incident where a 13-year-old girl was defiled by two men who also sliced her genitals using a razor blade at Shauri Yako estate.

Speaking after visiting the victim at Nairobi Women’s Hospital, Shebesh and Wanga called on all investigating agencies to fast-track the investigations and help bring the culprits behind bars.

While calling on the Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet to intervene, Shebesh lamented the probe saying it has been over a week since the incident occurred and yet no one has been arraigned in court.

“As the women of this country, please give us support. General arrests just to appease the public are not enough,” said Shebesh.

Shebesh, who is the CAS of the Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs also revealed that the ministry is in discussions with the Interior CS Fred Matiang’i and IG Boinnet on addressing the issues of gender desks in every police station.

“The people manning the desks are also supposed to be trained professionals in the matter, sometimes they are not,” said Shebesh.

The 13-year-old girl was moved to Nairobi Women’s Hospital on Thursday for further treatment following intervention by various state officials and local county leaders.

The Class Eight pupil from Homa Bay town, met her ordeal while going to the lavatories at around 10pm Saturday night.

According to her mother, there was a power blackout in the estate when the suspects decided to take advantage of the darkness to assault the minor.

She narrated that one of the men then grabbed the girl’s neck and placed  his hand over her mouth to keep her silent while the other lifted her from the ground as they carried her to a nearby bush.

In the bush, the suspects allegedly tried penetrating the minor’s genitals but were unable to and one of them resolved to using a razor blade to slice her genitals.

They then fled into the darkness leaving the minor in pain and she was rescued by a neighbor who was on her way to the bathroom.

The Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs, Margaret Kobia is also expected to visit the girl in hospital.