Police taken to task over rape ordeal in cell

By Edwin Makiche

Pressure continues to mount on Bomet police to explain circumstances under which a female suspect was allegedly raped by a male suspect inside a cell.

The Thursday evening incident left the 14-year-old victim nursing serious injuries. According to the Bomet deputy OCPD Michael Mbaluku, the incident occurred after the police officers on duty allowed male and female inmates to freely interact while they were being served food.

It was in the course of the commotion that, according to Mbaluku, the suspect sneaked into the female cell and assaulted the victim who was later discovered by the cellmates while bleeding profusely. The juvenile was being held at the cell ahead of mentioning of an assault case at Bomet Magistrate Court.

The incident has raised concerns over the safety of suspects in the police station whose cells are often crowded. Yesterday, a section of leaders accused the police of negligence claiming that the incident was a tip of what has been happening in the cells, especially at night.

Relatives have also demanded answers from the police, saying that mere charging of the suspect was not enough. They said that senior police officers should also be charged of negligence of duty.

Speaking to The Standard, Mbaluku said that the officers on duty had appeared before a disciplinary committee where they were charged for negligence. They were each fined Sh10,000 with threat of dismissal should they repeat the mistake.