33-year-old arrested for defiling two minors

A 33-year-old man suspected of defiling two minors aged three and four in Eldume area of Marigat, Baringo County cheated death narrowly while in the hands of irate residents.

The suspect identified as Joshua Kasitet Kangogo reportedly defiled the minors at their home in Lelcherai village on Saturday before retreating to a hideout, a few kilometers away.

Marigat Sub-County Police Commander Kipchirchir Too said that the suspect was being sought for an attempted robbery prior to the incident.

The sub-county police commander said that the matter was reported to them on Sunday noon and alerted the local administrators and residents to be on the lookout for the suspect.

The police visited the hospital and alerted the local leaders in Eldume to be on the lookout of the culprit.

It was until yesterday morning that the residents cornered the suspect in a hideout few kilometers from the crime scene and gave him a thorough beating that left him almost dead.

“One of the residents alerted us about the mob injustice. We managed to rescue him from the mob but he was unconscious. We searched him and established that he hails from the Kimalel location also within the sub-county,” said Mr Too.

The police boss said that the suspect was rushed to the same hospital as the minors while in critical condition.

"We are glad that doctors at Marigat Sub-County Hospital managed to attend to him. We have opened a file and shall arraign him before the court once he is in a position to do so," said Too.

He added that they had launched investigations and were piecing up evidence to be used against him for the attempted robbery and defilement charges.

“I urge members of the public to avoid taking the law into their own hands. Mob injustice is against the law. This was an isolated case but very traumatizing from the condition the children were left in,” said Too.

He explained that a passer-by at the home got concerned with the cries from inside the house and approached it.

“The suspect opened the door wielding a machete. The passerby raised alarm and residents converged.  He however threatened to harm anyone who got closer to him, giving him a chance to escape,” said Mr Too.

At the hospital, two minors aged three and four clutched at their mothers an indicator of the trauma they went through and the fear of strangers around them.

Chrispine Ngelechei, the hospital's medical superintendent said that the children were out of danger.

“The minors are now in stable condition and may be discharged soon. The suspect has also been stabilized. We are collaborating with the police since this is a police case,” said Ngelechei.

Finis Kerubo a paralegal, called on the police to ensure justice is served for the children noting that there were several such cases reported recently.

“Defilement cases are a challenge in this area. Unfortunately, they take so long to prosecute while others are thrown out. These two children suffered. It is our hope that justice will be found,” said Kerubo.

Rongai Liyakora, a resident noted that this form of immorality was mostly being perpetrated by the youth.

“This is very evil. Our plea is for the government to make interventions including the creation of jobs to keep them busy,” said Liyakora.

Elders summoned the parents of the two girls who claim to have been working on their farm and had left the children under the care of a twelve-year-old girl.

Alice, not her real name, explained that on arrival, they learned that she had briefly left the children on their own to collect a book from her friend.

“We checked on the children and realized they had been defiled. We rushed the two children to Eldume Dispensary where they were attended and later referred to Marigat Sub County Hospital,” said Alice.

Another parent said that she had no one else to leave the child with as she went to work on the farm.

“I was shocked to learn what had happened to our babies. At the dispensary, the doctor said that they required specialized care. We rushed them to Marigat Sub County Hospital on Sunday night,” she said.