Lock up this man for life, Kitui residents plead

Kitui,Kenya: Residents of Kathande village, Kitui County want the suspect who allegedly defiled and killed a nine-year old girl, locked up.

The locals yesterday told Mutito Deputy County Commissioner Omondi Otieno, Mwitika Assistant County Commissioner Stephen Kamande and former Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu that the mention of the suspect invokes fears in villagers.

 They handed over a signed memorandum to the government officials in which they pleaded that the suspect be locked up as the case continues. During a rally at Kathande Trading Centre in Kitui East constituency, residents also demanded the father of the suspect and other family members who were issuing threats to witnesses in the case be arrested.

The victim, Catherine Kaleve Kavwele, a Standard Three pupil, was found dead in a thicket, about two KM from her home. The girl went missing for seven hours after her mother sent her to a neighbour to collect food.

Mutito OCS Maurice Situma pledged to move to court to block the suspect from being granted bail.