Family alleges cover up in ‘rape’ case

By Vincent Bartoo

A family is seeking justice following the death of their daughter who was allegedly defiled by a man in charge of community policing in Lugari District.

Naomy Sindani, 13, was mentally challenged. She gave birth to a baby boy two months ago, but later died from complications related to the delivery.

She was a student at the Nangili Special School. But when the family, assisted by well-wishers, tried to get the man take responsibility for his actions, he allegedly turned the police against them.

Six villagers were arrested and locked up at Matunda Police Station where a P3 form they had secured against the man was taken away.

Ms Rose Nanyama (holding a baby), her husband Andrew Wafula (in cap) and other relatives of Naomy Sindani, 13, at her graveside in Nangili, Lugari District. [PHOTO: Peter Ochieng’/STANDARD]

The six included Pastor Timothy Masinde of the Nangili Pentecostal Life of God Ministry, who was allegedly warned to drop the matter.

"This man, with the help of police, are trying to intimidate us into silence. But we are willing to put our lives on the line for the sake of this family," he said when The Standard visited the family yesterday.

Masinde said prior to the girl’s death, he helped her draft a statement indicating who her baby’s father is.

"But the statement was forcefully taken away from us including a P3 form we had started filling at Kongoni Health Centre where the girl was treated," he added.

The girl’s father Andrea Wafula said his daughter complained of the man "doing bad things to her".

"She said he gave her bread and soda in his shop in the evenings and then took her to a back room where he did bad things to her," he said.

Got worse

He said after delivery, she experienced diarrhoea and vomiting and discharged greenish matter that was detected at the health centre.

"She was treated and discharged but got worse. She was pronounced dead on arrival after we took her back to hospital," said Mr Wafula.

Lugari acting OCPD Mwenda Muthamia described the matter an "old case whose file has since been closed due to lack of evidence".

He was, however, hard-pressed to explain why villagers were arrested and locked up over the matter.

"I need more time to investigate that. But we have established the family has been peddling lies on the alleged culprit," said Mr Muthamia.