Justice-Rape
A mother of a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter who was defiled at the age of one year and ten months has decried intimidation in her pursuit of justice. Notwithstanding the adage that says that the wheels of Justice grind slowly but grind exceedingly fine, Halima Muthoni mother of the minor that was in June last year defiled by a 16-year-old boy wants the case to be expedited.
On the fateful day as she was arranging clothes with the radio on, she was alerted to the cries of her baby playing in a nearby vacant room.
“The accused person was fond of playing with my children. I never suspected that he may do the beastly act to my child. He took my child to an empty room, I heard her crying calling my name,” recalled the mother. On her way to the room, she found the accused hastily leaving. She found her child on the floor bleeding. Relatives of the accused tried in vain to plead with the mother not to report the case.
The mother was lucky to get a well-wisher who helped her child get some initial treatment. “I want justice for my child; if anything happens to me you already know. I don’t have the finances to relocate from Likoni. My business was bankrupted because of my child. I will not demur until my child gets justice,” vowed the mother.
The mother said she smelled a rat when the case started and was called to testify and found out that the charges were different, and her names were not well captured. “My daughter, doctor and myself have already testified but the Police have not gone to testify as those initially handling the case have since been transferred.”
“I have been threatened but all I want is justice for my child. I have moved houses but they keep following me to my new localities,” she added. Muslim for Human Rights (MUHURI) Rapid Response Officer Francis Auma said they have received several complaints from citizens who are accusing police stationed at Inuka Police Station of interfering with cases.
“There is rampant graft, people are booked but aren’t arraigned in court. There is a kangaroo court there is injustice. Today, “They are forcing the mother to accept a bribe not to continue with the case. A sexual offence cannot be withdrawn easily because the victim is a minor who has no consent to withdraw the case,” he added.
Auma noted that the mother fears for her safety having been beaten severally, her house invaded and medical records robbed. Auma further alleged that the people who are handling the case have been compromised to defeat justice.
“We will not accept injustice this is a human rights violation for a child who has been raped. People who are supposed to protect children’s rights are interfering with cases and children’s rights,” said Auma, calling on the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) to intervene for the child to get justice.
The judiciary was also urged to expedite the hearing of sexual-related cases that are prone to interference. Said Salim, a Human Right Activist said the conduct of some Police Officers is wanting and Inuka Police Station is just an example. He vowed not to relent until the Child gets justice adding that the Inspector General (IG)of police should intervene.
“We cannot have a police department that is threatening, posing a threat to basic human rights and fundamental freedoms. We cannot have a police department that the people don’t have trust in. The same department that is supposed to inflict hope is creating fear and disturbance,” said Salim.