Movie-like scenes as Homa Bay-bound KCSE girl escapes rape

The attempted rape scene was processed and documented. [File, Standard]

Police in Nyeri have arrested a 52-year-old man accused of attempting to rape a 21-year-old KCSE candidate.

The student of Gitunduti Mixed Secondary School in Mathira East told police that the suspect, Washington Nderitu, attempted to sexually abuse her after claiming he would show her a place to spend the night.

The learner had completed her Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam, and had earlier unsuccessfully attempted to travel to her parents’ home in Homa Bay.

“She told police that she completed her KCSE exam on Monday, April 19. On Wednesday 8am, she boarded a matatu to Nairobi with the intention of connecting to Homa Bay from the capital city,” says a police report filed at the Nyeri Police Station on Thursday.

“She, however, alighted at Kenol area after the PSV driver told her they could not proceed with the trip to Nairobi,” added the report filed under the OB Number 3/22/4/2021.

The student, thereafter, boarded another matatu back to Nyeri at noon, the same day. She wanted to connect to Nakuru via Nyahururu, police said.

“The vehicle made several stops on the way, but she arrived in Nyeri at 6pm. The driver of the matatu took her round and round (sic) within Nyeri Town while promising he would take her to the stage where Nakuru-bound matatus are operating,” said the police statement.

The girl said in her report that Nderitu later advised her against travelling at night, citing curfew restrictions.

 “He promised he would help her get a place to spend the night so that she continues with her journey on Thursday. The two, consequently, exchanged telephone contacts.”

Nderitu is said to have asked the girl to wait for her at a spot in Nyeri Town as he completed the day’s work.

“At around 9pm, the driver picked the student and took her to his house within Ruring’u Location. He had lied to the learner that he was taking her to a lodging facility, where she’d pay an accommodation fee of Sh600.

“On arrival at his house, Nderitu attempted to rape the student but she managed to escape and dialled 999 on her phone while hiding behind an M-Pesa shop near Nderitu’s house.”

Police responded by rushing to the distress call location.

The law enforcement officers thereafter used the student to lure Nderitu into a trap.

“The driver emerged driving a Toyota Hiace matatu registered under the 2NK Sacco. He picked the girl. However, when he was about to drive off, police emerged from hiding near Riva Petrol Station and flagged down the matatu. Nderitu, however, accelerated in an attempt to run over the police officers. It was then that the officers responded by shooting the vehicle’s right front wheel, prompting the driver to stop,” said the police statement.

Nderitu was subsequently arrested, and school uniform and other personal items belonging to the girl recovered from the matatu.

“The student, in the company of the said-driver, led police officers to the house where the attempted rape occurred. The scene was processed and documented, and the vehicle towed to Nyeri Police Station.”

Nderitu will be arraigned once investigations are completed, police said.