Residents and Activists Condemn Defilement of Two Eight-Year-Old Girls in Uasin Gishu
Nairobi County led with 2,654 cases filed, including 364 defilement cases, followed by Kiambu with 265 defilement cases.
Photo: Courtesy.
By Deborah Were
Residents of Huruma area in Uasin Gishu County are in deep shock and anger after two eight-year-old girls were defiled. They are now asking security agencies to act quickly to arrest the suspect and take him to court.
Police say the prime suspect is a man estimated to be around 30 years old. He reportedly ran away from the scene after the incident. A police manhunt is currently underway to find him and arrest him.
Speaking on behalf of the residents, community spokesperson Benson Makungu condemned the incident.
“First and foremost, we condemn this act committed against these children. We call upon the community to cooperate with the police by providing information that will assist in the suspect’s arrest,” Makungu said.
Child rights activist Crystal also spoke, urging parents to be closer to their children to detect early signs of abuse.
“To all parents, please set aside time to listen to your children. We do not know what they go through when returning from school or playing with their peers. Child abuse must stop,” she said.
The activists also urged parents not to remain silent when children report abuse. They said early reporting helps protect other children and ensures justice is served.
The Bigger Picture: Defilement Cases in Kenya
This incident in Uasin Gishu comes at a time when Kenya is facing a high number of sexual violence cases against children, according to verified reports from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the Judiciary, and the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ).
Data from the Judiciary shows that between 2022 and 2025, Kenyan courts handled 28,146 sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) cases. Defilement was the second most reported offence, with 8,071 cases filed and 4,474 resolved.
A more recent report for the 2024/25 financial year shows the problem is still big. A total of 31,460 SGBV cases were filed in courts across the country. Out of these, grievous harm accounted for 23,221 cases (74 per cent) and defilement accounted for 6,088 cases (19 per cent).
Nairobi County led with 2,654 cases filed, including 364 defilement cases, followed by Kiambu with 265 defilement cases.
Data from the ODPP further shows that defilement consistently accounts for more than half of all sexual offences prosecuted annually. Counties such as Kisii, Nairobi, Bungoma, Kilifi, and Nakuru consistently rank high in reported cases.
According to national surveys on Violence Against Children, children are at highest risk at a young age. The 2010 National Survey found that 32 percent of adult females and 18 percent of adult males had experienced sexual violence during their childhood. The mean age of victims in studies done in Kenya was found to be around 11 to 13 years, showing abuse is directed at children of tender age.
The law in Kenya is very strict on defilement. Under Section 8(2) of the Sexual Offences Act, a person who commits defilement with a child aged eleven years or less shall upon conviction be sentenced to imprisonment for life.
Residents of Huruma now say they will work with police and chiefs to ensure the suspect is found, and they are calling for counseling and medical support for the two girls as they seek justice.
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