House help caught on camera molesting minor

I recently got a househelp from the village after the ones I keep getting from the bureaus kept stealing from me. Because of insecurity, I decided to place cameras at strategic parts of the house, one in the bathroom, because I suspected my brother-in-law was having sex with the househelps.

After a month of recording, I played back the video, not expecting so much because nothing had disappeared from the house. What I saw, however, has left me in shock.

The new househelp has been molesting my five-year-old son, making him do unprintable things to sexually satisfy herself. The girl is 15. Her mother gave her to me because they were unable to take her to school and I had promised to take her for a tailoring course after monitoring her.

Now I want her punished. My wife has not seen the video, and I am unable to ask the child anything. I’m also scared that before the child is punished, I might be charged over child labour. How do I handle this whole situation? 

 — Dominiqe.

Your say

Do you realise that you took advantage of a minor who was at the peak of her adolescence on the promise of taking her for a tailoring course?  It is so sad that most people use such as a bait of getting minors from poor families to work for them. Anyway, that’s beside the point.

She probably wasn’t getting any advice whatsoever from anyone on life’s issues and more so, you might have been having her spend her whole day within your compound (or house) where she wanted something to keep her occupied after the house chores were over.

So being yet another teenager with all the energy and curiosity, she turned into doing all those  things  you cannot describe to your son. It is sad that what happened happened, but the best way through this is seeking guidance and counselling for this young lady and your son too. And letting your wife know is a good idea; that way the two of you can help these two youngsters.

 —Angeline Kado, via e-mail

Don’t you try to tell your wife anything to do with this video. Speaking from a woman’s point of view, trust me, she won’t take it. She will kill the girl and blame you for it for the rest of your stay together. Find a good reason to return the girl to her parents without raising any eyebrows, then take your child for counselling.

— Dina Kebaso, Kericho.

Dear Dominiqe, before you tell your wife what’s going on, call the girl and show it to her. Then ask her to confess what she did to your wife when both of you are seated. Although she is most likely going to blame you for all this, it is the easier way out. When both of you are in agreement, seek the help of the police, and also prepare to bite the bullet because child labour is evident in your case.

— Samora Malala, Alendu

 

You reap what you sow. Chances are this girl was so green from home and was for the first time living in a house where there is a TV. And with the many soap operas, she had only your son to use practise what she watches.

— Mercy Mkamburi, Voi.

There can never be a perfect person, so forgive the child and do what you planned to do for her before she messed with the child. Then take your child to a school where they are taught about their private body parts. Your wife must not know this though, so discard the video.

—Leonard Okenda, Kapsabet

Once beaten, twice shy. This girl might advance in this act and one day harm your child’s social growth. Find her a relative to live with and help her from a distance. You do not have to live with all the people you help.

— Timothy Njau, Mombasa

Provided that child still lives in that house, that thing is going to happen again. Whether your wife suspects or not be open about your recording, and show it to her. Then get advice from a lawyer before moving to police.

— Asman Duale, Moyale.