This archive report was first published on 7 January 2020.
January 7, 2020, marked a significant step towards creating awareness on the rights of children in Kilifi County, with the establishment of Haki Clubs in Ganze.
The initiative, piloted by Kwetu Training Centre Organization in collaboration with Ganze Area Advisory Council, aims to educate children on their rights to education, health, and choice of life.
According to Mercy Mbogo, Project Manager of Kwetu Training Centre Organization, the research conducted last year revealed that eight out of 10 residents believed defilement is not a crime.
“Law courts in Kilifi have difficulties in getting support in terms of evidence as the complainants of defiled children fail to cooperate with the justice system. Other relevant pieces of evidence including P3 forms which are filled in Kilifi are not done in time as parents of the defiled children also fail to support and speed up the process,” Mbogo said.
She added that at least three defilement cases out of 10 that are taken to Kilifi courts get concluded in time and the culprits sentenced while the remaining seven take too long and get dismissed due to lack of evidence.
Ganze Sub-County Commissioner, Richard Karani, dispelled views of the local residents on issues of defilements, warning that stern action will be taken against chiefs and their Assistants who fail to report such cases.
“We have administrators at the grassroots level who should not hesitate to take action by reporting both parents of victims of defilement and the suspects for action to be taken. Handling such cases at the grassroots means denying justice to the children”, Karani noted.
