The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Narok has raised concern over rising cases of defilement and called for concerted efforts to reduce the vice.

Narok ODPP in charge, Gitonga Muranga said most of the cases they are prosecuting in court are defilement related, warning the society to take care of young children especially the ‘girl child’ as they are the most affected. He said adults and relatives who are supposed to protect the youngsters are mostly the culprits.

“Parents should protect their children against any form of harm. They should be careful with the adults they entrust to take care of their young children,” said Muranga.

He spoke to journalists at his office, where he cited a recent case that is ongoing in court, in which a seven-year-old girl was allegedly defiled by an uncle. “It is unfortunate that those who are supposed to protect the children have turned out to be their main threat. We need to protect our children against any danger,” he said.

Muranga warned sex pests fond of preying on minors that they risk stern punishment that includes life imprisonment.

“We will continue sensitising our people on the stern punishment that cases of defilement attract in a bid to reduce the cases in our county. Our office does a weekly radio show in local radio stations, where we educate the citizens and engage with them via phone-in calls,” he said.

He expressed confidence that defilement cases can decrease to less than 10 per cent if stakeholders collaborate to safeguard the girl child.

According to statistics from the Kenya Health Demographic Survey (KHDS), cases of defilement have decreased from 40 per cent in 2014 to 28 per cent in 2022.

Speaking in a past function in Morijo market, Loita area, Narok Governor Patrick Ntutu said he would not protect anyone who defiles a girl because they were ruining the girls’ future.

He instead committed to working with the National Government Administration Officers to arrest and prosecute men who defile girls. “Do not think I will protect you because I am your governor when you marry a girl below 18 years old. I will make matters worse for you. I will ensure you are punished for the crime. We need to protect our girls so that they can have a bright future,” said Governor Ntutu.