Chief, principal face defilement charges

South West Seme Location Chief Michael Odhiambo in court yesterday. [PHOTO: COLLINS ODUOR/ STANDARD]

A chief in the county has been arraigned in court for allegedly defiling a 14-year-old school girl.

And in Homa Bay County, a high school principal is on the run after he allegedly raped his Form Four student during the April school holidays. The girl reported the case to the mother who reported it to the relevant authorities.

South West Seme Location Chief Michael Odhiambo Oluoch appeared before Maseno Principal Magistrate Dolphin Okundi yesterday to answer to two accounts of charges after he had surrendered to Kombewa Police on Monday.

According to the charge sheet, Mr Oluoch was accused of luring the Standard Six pupil at Ranen Primary in Seme Sub-County into his home on June 7, before committing the act between 10am and 4pm.

The chief was also charged with indecently touching the minor contrary to the laws protecting children.

According to statements made by the girl’s grandmother, she had gone to church on Sunday and left the minor to take care of the domestic chores.

It was during this time that the chief took advantage of the grandmother’s absence and called the girl, duping her that she wanted to send her to a nearby shop.

The girl said she got the chief taking breakfast and demanded that she gets into the house.

“He quickly threw me onto the bed and started undressing me. I tried to plead with him but he threatened that he would beat me if I ever raised an alarm,” said the girl.

After the act, the chief detained the girl in his house till late in the evening when the girl reported the matter.

“She was in pain and she explained while sobbing, how the chief had mishandled her. I took her to hospital while her inner clothing were all covered with blood,” said the grandmother.

Efforts by the chief’s lawyer Edwin Lugadiru to get him a bond were thwarted after the office of the Director of Public Prosecution opposed the request, saying letting the suspect into the village would interfere with the witness.

Ms Okundi, however, directed that the decision to grant the suspect bond would be made once complainant testifies in court. County Commissioner Erastus Ekidor, however, said the chief has been suspended until the case is determined.

OTHER ASSAULTS

Elsewhere, Diosiana Ahindukha, the Homa Bay County Teachers Service Commission director said her team is investigating a high school principal for defiling a form four student.

“We received a report on Thursday that the principal had defiled the girl. We went to the school on Friday and took a statement from the girl. The teacher was absent. I will finish the investigations in a week and take necessary disciplinary action,” Ms Ahindukha said.

Teachers in the school who spoke on condition of anonymity said this is not the first incident involving their school boss.

On the fateful day, it is said the student went to water her agricultural project plot when the principal summoned her to his house, stripped her naked and defiled her.

It is said the principal visited her mother, a widow at night. He promised to pay her money so long she keeps the matter a secret. She refused.