Father defiles 16 year-old daughter, scalds her with water

A 16-year-old girl is undergoing treatment at Kapsowar Mission Hospital after allegedly being sexually and physically assaulted by her father.

She suffered severe burns on her private parts and on the lower limbs after being scalded by hot water.

The victim from Kachesoi village in Kipkaner location- Marakwet East Sub County is also 8 months pregnant following repeated sexual assault from the father.

Doctors at the hospital said the assailant wanted to terminate the pregnancy by pouring hot water on the girls’ private parts eventually burning the child’s genitalia and legs.

Chelimo Korir, a gynecologist and obstetrician at the hospital, said though the minor and the fetus are out of danger, the girl still need specialized care to ensure she fully recovers.

“The hot water severely burned the outer parts of her private parts and it was by sheer luck the fetus is still intact. Our conclusion after thorough assessment is that the perpetrator wanted the child to abort,” said Dr Korir who is also the facility’s medical officer.

The medic said the girl after being put under medication was responding positively to treatment though malnourished.

“We are also trying to stabilize her health because her body is malnourished and a nutritionist has been stationed to monitor her diet as well as a counsellor to offer psychological and emotional support,” he said.

When The Standard visited her at the facility, no family member was on sight to help her. The staff at the facility are now her caregivers. She looked deranged, traumatised and in pain because of blisters.

Apparently she had been brought into the hospital at night by a person claiming to be a neighbour who later vanished before giving any information to the doctors about the girl.

“On Sunday evening at round 7pm, the girl in excruciating pain was brought in by a woman claiming she was a ‘neighbour’. Funny enough as the doctors were examining her, the woman vanished,” said the hospital director, Stanley Mutwol.

He said according to information they had gathered through the hospital social workers; the father was responsible for the assault cases.

“The child admitted of the sexual abuse from the father which has been going on for some time now. Through our interaction with the child, we have discovered that since her mother died some time back, the man has been sexually exploiting the girl,” said Mr Mutwol.

The matter has been reported to police and children department to help in tracing the suspect and have the child get justice.

“We have witnessed an upsurge of sexual molestation particularly in Marakwet East and cases of victims being brought and dumped here is not peculiar. Leaders and child rights activist should come in and alleviate the societal challenge,” he implored.

He said his main worry is where the children will go after being discharged.

The matter has caught the attention of Elgeyo Marakwet MCAs women caucus who visited the child and condemned the act.

“As a matter of fact we are calling upon the National Assembly to amend the sexual offence act to include castration of men who molest children. It is getting out of hand and deliberate action should be put in place to end the menace,” said Truphena Yego, the women caucus chair.