Gender-Based Violence lobbyist in Kilifi County are now demanding for immediate arrest and prosecution of a police officer accused of defiling a sixteen years old girl in January this year.
The accused law enforcement officer is based at Marereni Magarini sub-county who allegedly defiled a minor in January this year.
They accused investigators and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), a civilian oversight body against police officers of laxity.
The human rights crusaders said the matter was reported to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Kilifi County and IPOA but six ago and nothing has been forthcoming.
The suspect is said to be loaming freely in the area.
Speaking in Malindi today, the the activists said the minor aged 16 has been staying at a child rescue centre and is traumatized because she has not been able to join form two.
They said she was defiled when she was in form one and the case was reportedly taken over by the Kilifi County DCI office which is yet to conclude the matter to date.
Helda Lammeck the Chairperson of Malindi GBV Network said accused the police of laxity saying they are clearly protecting one of their own.
She called on IPOA, DCI, and all security agencies to come clean about the matter as the community is seeking answers from them.
“Our role is to do sensitization in the community but currently we are tied because whenever we go there, we are asked about the progress of the case which we do not have answers for,” she said.
Lameck has also urged the Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi to intervene and ensure the suspect is arrested.
Emmanuel Omondi, a GBV activist in Malindi said the community has lost trust in the police after the incident.