Draft bill seeks to end sex crimes

Joyce Lay is one of the crusaders lobbying for the Children’s Act to be reviewed to ensure deterrent sentences are handed to those found guilty.

Taita Taveta Majority Leader Cromwell Baridi plans to introduce to the county assembly a controversial bill to help end rising cases of gender-based violence against minors.

The Anti-Sexual Offenses Bill will introduce punitive penalties like castration of the perpetrators, he says.

Women MPs are also pushing for a review of the Sexual Offences and Children Act.

“The Bill will soon be tabled for debate. If passed and assented into law by Governor John Mruttu, it will introduce castration among other stiffer penalties to be meted against those violating children’s rights as a deterrent measure to address the vice,” said Mr Baridi, also the Mgange-Mwanda ward representative.

Taita-Taveta MP Joyce Lay said more than 80 women MPs were lobbying for the Children’s Act to be reviewed to ensure deterrent sentences are handed to those found guilty.

But Mwatate MP Andrew Mwadime is of a different opinion, saying he would oppose the proposed law if women legislators introduce the castration clause.

“The Bible and even customs do not allow castration of men and that is why I will not support the bill. It is true that the current laws are not punitive enough but we should find other ways of punishing culprits. We should find a win-win situation,” said the legislator.

He noted women were also sexually harassing minors.

“What action will be taken against women found sexually abusing boys?  The act should not be discriminatory but fair to all. I will support other issues of the bill and not castration,” he maintained.