Any man who slept with this tiny girl should be in jail — Charity Ngilu

Last week, The Nairobian highlighted the story of 24-year-old Carol Mawia who had given up on life and was contemplating suicide.

Her story captured the attention of many Kenyans, among them the former Lands Cabinet Secretary, Charity Ngilu

Ngilu called Carol personally after getting her contacts from The Nairobian team, and met her on Monday March 14. She took her to a popular campus where she will be admitted in September 2016 to study medicine.

“I want to commend The Nairobian for bringing to light Carol’s story. It really broke my heart when I read it. I took it upon myself to make sure that she gets a good life,” Ngilu told The Nairobian when she called to thank us for linking her up with Carol.

She further condemned the men who had taken advantage of Carol in her time of need.

“Any man who slept with this tiny girl should be in jail. It’s very sad, but I will make sure this does not happen again. I will take her out of her current home and take her to a school where she can teach as she waits to join campus in September,” said the former Lands CS.

Carol was a first-year Mass communication student at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, but had to drop out due to lack of school fees.

Her problems began in 2011 when she lost her father to a grenade attack in Garissa. Her mother reportedly introduced her to prostitution, while her older siblings allegedly rejected her.

Desperate to survive, she registered as an escort on a website. Unfortunately, she got raped by a man who did not even bother to wear a condom and infected her an STI. She was also had a breast infection and stomach ulcers. She was stuck in the house, unable to walk for two weeks.

The day the article was published (March 11), the Doctors without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) in Mathare slums called her to offer her free treatment.

“I wanted to die, but there is at least some light at the end of the tunnel now. I still can’t believe that Honourable Charity Ngilu called and promised me all these. That I will finally study medicine is a dream come true. I finally have the opportunity to do what I always wanted to do,” an elated Carol told The Nairobian.

JKUAT student union also paid Carol’s rent for one month.