Residents in West Pokot County have held demonstrations protesting the alarming cases of sexual harassment among young girls in the County.
This comes after a case was reported where a 17-year-old girl was allegedly defiled by two staff members in the office of the County woman representative Lillian Tomitom.
The girl, a form two student at Puropoi Girls has reported the matter at the Kapenguria police station and the case is being investigated.
The protesters carried twigs, banners and placards with messages defending young girls against sexual harassment which they said have become rampant in the County.
The demonstrators claimed that the girl was defiled in the guise that her school fees would be catered for.
They marched up to Kapenguria police station and gave a seven day ultimatum to the woman representative to surrender the culprit to the police.
Led by Pokot Girls Foundation official Ms Philomena Chelangat, they said the girl has been defiled several times since January this year inside the office of the County member of parliament.
Chelagat faulted the woman representative who they said has kept quiet over the allegations concerning his office staff members. “I went to the school and talked to the girl who confessed that that she has been defiled. The first time it happened was in January,” said Dorcas Ng’imor.
The demonstrators who demanded for justice of the girl accused the security team for not arresting the culprit. “We need the culprit arrested for investigations to continue. It’s long overdue and we have not received any report,” said Ms Ng’imor.
They accused area leaders for appointing people of questionable characters and reputation in their offices.
“Before employing anyone they should be vetted to ensure someone has a certificate of good conduct,” said Ms Ng’imor.
However, West Pokot police commander Mr. Mathew Kuto said the case is being handled by the police and an investigation is ongoing. Kuto said that the girl delayed to report the matter to the police and they are facing challenges in handling the case.
The office of the woman representative has suspended all its staff for investigations to be conducted.