A doctor rapes a 13-year-old girl in Yala

On a Sunday morning 13 year old Anyango (Not her real name) woke up with fever and headache. After doing all the house chores and taking breakfast she decided to visit a private hospital that is owned and run by a well-known doctor in Yala Town. It was not her first time to go to the hospital since the doctor was a family friend.

Since it was on a Sunday morning and many people had gone to pray, Anyango was lucky because no patient was queuing at the hospital. Without wasting time, she walked into the doctor’s room for consultations.  She was welcomed in nicely and explained everything to the doctor. She left no stone unturned.

Things started going wrong when the doctor asked her if he could check her body temperature. It started with a touch on the face, then it moved to her breast then  to her thighs and hips and finally to her neck. The doctor then told her that her fever was caused by lack of sex and he was going to cure her.

Anyango was innocent. She thought the doctor was going to give her some medication so she waited patiently. The doctor locked the door and grabbed her by the hand and took her to the screening bed, where he took off her clothes, and threatened her that he would kill her if she screamed, and raped her using a condom. After raping her, the doctor continued to threaten her by vowing to kill her if she told anyone about what had happened.

Anyango found it difficult to walk back home so the doctor hired a boda boda to take her. When she reached home her mother was quick to notice that her walking style had changed. She made her sit down and demanded to know why she was walking that way.

Since her mother was harsh and violent she spoke up. She did not want to face the wrath of her angry mother. Her mother was so shocked that she fainted but thanks to her father she was resuscitated. Anyango was rushed to hospital where she was attended to.

When the matter was reported to Yala police station, the police officers arrested the doctor but released him later at night.  Since the doctor had money he was able to manipulate all police officers and tamper with all the evidence. He is now a free man walking in the streets of Yala town. For Anyango she will have live with the scars of rape.

Sometimes I ask myself, if those who we look up to in the society are doing all these bad things to our young girls, then who will protect them? Cases of rape and defilement on young girls are on the rise in Yala and the victims never get justice at all.

 Moreover most rape cases usually go unreported but if it is reported, the perpetrators tend to buy justice from themselves. I call upon the people of Yala, to say enough is enough and end child molestation and rape.

Law enforcers are a huge let down when it comes to the fight against Rape. Instead of utumishi kwa wote (service for all) they have turned to utumishi kwa wenye pesa (services to those with money). If we are to win the battle against child rape and molestation, we need everyone on board to speak in one voice against Rape. Speaking out is greater than being in silent.