Influence from parents or close relatives to drop cases of abuse has been cited as the main hindrance to finding justice for sexually abused children in Matete Sub-County.
The remarks were made by Catherine Onyango from the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions Kakamega County, while speaking to child rights stakeholders at Matete Stadium Thursday.
Onyango regretted that influence from relatives for the cases to be dropped on grounds that the perpetrators are close family members denied abused children justice.
“Children are coached not to speak in courts or asked to deny some truths of the case filed in court,” she regretted.
“You parent, if you’re coaching your child not to speak in court you’re not helping your child especially if they are defiled or raped,” Onyango further warned.
The official insisted that incest, defilement or rape cases will stick to children’s minds until they are adults and they can’t forget that nobody protected them when they were tortured.
“It’s important for the parents or key stakeholders to assist children who are victims of incest, defilement or even rape,” Onyango advised.
She said children are not aware that they are protected by the law and, “It is our duty to make sure children understand their rights and enjoy justice by ensuring they are not denied justice in cases before the courts of law.”
Onyango called on teachers to encourage children to report incest, rape and defilement cases to them, for they fear to share such cases at home because that’s where the perpetrators are.
“Please teachers if you receive these reports, communicate to the right people, which includes area chiefs, church or police station so that we are able to help,” Onyango said.
She pleaded with the Children Department to find alternative homes for children, whose cases are in courts so that relatives including parents do not have opportunities to distort evidence.
Last Month, Matete Sub-County Deputy County Commissioner Philip Sigei revealed that there were many unreported cases of child abuse including incest, defilement and rape within his Sub-County and called for the state and child rights agencies and groups to team up and ensure affected children get justice.
However, Sigei urged the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution to be present in the Sub-County so that they can prepare charge sheet once police arrest child abuse perpetrators.
“Please officers from the ODPP avail yourselves so that arrested child abuse suspects can be taken to court within recommended hours,” he said.
