Two Kenyan women were arrested on Monday for allegedly assisting a South African national accused of defiling Kenyan girls, as police initiated an investigation into the case.
Police in Malindi, Kilifi County launched a manhunt for the foreigner whom law enforcement agencies believe was running a sex trafficking ring in the country aided by locals.
A court sitting in Malindi heard that the two women lured and escorted the minors into pedophilia and other indecent acts over an extended period of time.
Before the two women were arrested, irate locals and police laid an ambush in Baobab Area in Kilifi to rescue the two minors who had already allegedly been sexually abused. The two are aged 3 and 6 respectively.
One parent while speaking to journalists, narrated that her child came back home carrying ice cream on her hand.
Sensing that something was amiss, she questioned the child who confirmed that she had been sexually abused.
Another distraught parent lamented that her child had been allegedly sexually assaulted and sodomised by the foreigner.
She therefore called on the government to take swift action to bring all those involved to book.
The local community, as a result pressured the government to ensure that the suspect and all his accomplices are apprehended before the date when the case will be heard in court.
Witnesses who gave their account to the police and journalists claimed that the 40-year old foreigner escaped on foot into a nearby forest, ditching his car and belongings.
The Sexual Offenses Act, 2006, imposes stringent penalties for child defilement to underscore the severity of the crime.
For offenses involving a child under the age of 11 years, the Act prescribes a life imprisonment sentence. In cases where the victim is between 11 and 16 years old, the minimum penalty is 20 years imprisonment, although this can be extended to life imprisonment if aggravating factors, such as violence or significant harm, are present.
