Orphanage director arrested for allegedly impregnating student

Ringa Police Station in Homa Bay county where the director of an orphanage has been detained, on March [File, Standard]

A director of an orphanage has been arrested for allegedly impregnating a Form Two student under his care in Rachuonyo East Sub-county, Homa Bay County.

The 57-year-old man had admitted the girl to the orphanage because she was vulnerable due to poverty in her family.

He has been sponsoring the student's at a local secondary school.

However, there are claims that the man has been taking advantage of the child's vulnerability to defile her.

The director had allegedly warned the girl against telling anyone about the defilement.

But the matter came to the public limelight when the girl went to a health facility and found she was pregnant.

A resident who sought anonymity said the girl decided to go for the test after missing her periods.

"The girl became suspicious after realising she had missed her periods. She went to a hospital where she tested positive for pregnancy," he said.

The girl reported the matter to Kendu Bay Police Station in the neighboring Rachuonyo North Sub-county.

The police at Kendu Bay transferred the matter to their counterparts in Rachuonyo East Sub-county.

Rachuonyo East Sub-county Police Commander Laban Omol said the director is in custody at Ringa Police Station.

"He is in our custody and we are going to charge him in court," Omol said.

They girl has since been moved to another orphanage in the county.

"We have rescued the girl by taking her to the orphanage to deter the suspect from accessing her," he said.

The police boss warned the management of orphanages against violating the rights of the minors.

"Orphanages and any other institution that takes care of children should be free from rights violation. We want people to abide by the law and demonstrate the highest ethical standards where they work," Omol said.