Police launch manhunt for suspects who defiled minors at Menengai Crater

Two of the suspects both aged 17 who were arrested on April 21, 2019 after they defiled two girls who had gone hiking at Menengai Crater. Police have launched a manhunt for two other suspects who escaped. Photo: Kennedy Gachuhi, Standard.

Police in Bahati are looking for two suspects and holding two others who allegedly defiled two school girls at Menengai Crater on Sunday evening.

The four suspects are said to have descended on the girls who in a group of nearly ten youths had gone for hiking at the crater during the Easter festivities.

The minors are high school students at Moi Forces Academy and Uhuru Secondary School aged 15 and 17 respectively.

“We parted ways from the rest of the group when the two accosted us. We called for help but we were too far to be hard by the rest. The suspects freed us after defiling me and my friend,” said one of the minors.

The girls later reunited with their friends after which they informed Kenya Forest Service (KFS) officers who were on patrol and other residents touring the area for the Easter Holiday picnics.

Kiamaina Ward representative Isaac Wahome said that the girls who were in shock gave them a physical description of the suspects after which they combed the forest in search for the suspects.

“We managed to corner two of the suspects but two managed to escape deep into the forest. We handed them over to KFS officers manning the forest who handed them to officers from Bahati Police Station,” said Wahome.

Wahome added that the two suspects confessed to have committed the offense and their two accomplices went into hiding within the forest.

Members of the Kenya Red Cross who were also in the area for a different exercise attended to the girls before rushing them to the hospital for treatment.

“It was by luck that the Kenya Red Cross members were in the area and they assisted in handling the victims. They were rushed to the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital for medical attention,” said Wahome.

Confirming the incident Bahati Sub County Police boss Jacinta Mwarania said that the two suspects were being held at Bahati Police Station waiting to be arraigned in court.

“The suspects didn’t have any identification documents on them. We have established that they are both 17 years old. They claim to be working as loaders at a quarry in Maili Sita area,” said Mwarania said.

She added that two would be arraigned in court later in the day adding that the search for the other suspects is still on.