Vihiga leadership has condemned increased defilement cases in the area and cited drug abuse and alcoholism among the youth as the main instigating factors of the vice.
Governor Moses Akaranga and county commissioner Pauline Dola condemned such vices and said the perpetrators will face the full wrath of the law.
Akaranga called on the police to arrest the defilers and ensure the children are protected from such culprits.
“It is foolish to deal with such cases outside the court. The police must take action and ensure the suspects go through the legal process to determine their fate,” said Akaranga.
He also asked the police to curb the sale of illicit brew and take actions on bar owners who operate before stipulated time.
“Why should you drink in the morning? When will you work,” asked Akaranga, adding that most youths were taking their time to drink instead of working on building a stronger economy.
The governor even challenged the scholars in the region to do a research on the type of food the youth were eating to determine why they only target the minors amid laughter.
“It would be good if our researchers do some analysis of the kind of food people take in Vihiga causing them defile such underage kids,” said Akaranga, “The types of food people eat could be playing a crucial factor.”
Ndola has asked chiefs and security agents to take serious note of defilement cases. Dola said suspects arrested to be taken to the relevant department paving way for the court of law take action.
Similar sentiments were echoed by the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of interior and national coordination Karanja Kibuchi two weeks ago on his tour.
Dola said the cases reported have been alarming. ”The number of defilement cases is alarming and I urge chiefs to coordinate with security forces to help in curbing such cases,” said Dola.
She urged the security officers to control the distribution of alcohol alleged to be coming from other neighboring counties. She said alcoholism and drug abuse is playing a key role in the case.
She urged locals to report police officers who collude with suspects and collect bribes in a bid to reduce the sale of illicit brew.
The leaders were speaking barely a week after a 78-year-old man defiled a minor at Munoywa in Sabatia sub-county and other two cases reported this week at the police station.
The two were addressing residents during the Mashujaa Day celebrations at the county headquarters in Mbale town.
