This archive report was first published on 25 November 2019.
A two-week-old assault has left a tea picker in Meru County fighting for his life at the Meru Level 5 hospital. The victim, a resident of Githaku in Central Imenti, was attacked by a gang of criminals on his way home from a bar at Githaku market.
According to residents, the gang proceeded to sodomise the tea picker and insert a bottle in his private parts. The incident has left the community living in fear, with residents saying that it is now very dangerous for men to walk around after dusk.
Cliff Kigunda, a resident of Githaku, told The Standard that the man's groin was severely damaged and doctors had to perform extensive surgery. Kigunda also stated that the gang uses guerrilla tactics, robbing people and escaping into the nearby Mount Kenya Forest.
The gang is suspected to comprise of young people who are part of the Githaku Community. The incident has also led to a rise in insecurity in the area, with residents reporting the disappearance of livestock and break-ins at shops.
Martin Gitonga, a bodaboda operator in Githau, noted that the nearest police station is in Githongo, a few kilometers away. The area Officer Commanding Police Station (OCS) has yet to issue a statement on the incident.
