An assistant chief suspected of defiling a 14-year-old girl in Murang’a has been arrested.
The official is accused of molesting the minor at Gitweku village on January 1, 2023, and the arrest came following protests by residents.
Family members said the minor had been sent to stay with her aunt who is mentally challenged for the December holidays when the incident happened.
Relatives and residents expressed concerns over delays to have the assistant chief apprehended saying he had made tried to settle the matter out of court.
The administrator allegedly tried using the village elders to convince the minor’s parents.
In her words, the minor said the administrator laid a sack on the earthen floor before committing the act.
"He came to my aunt's home one day to borrow a panga sharpening file when he asked me to give her her aunt's number".
On Thursday, residents of the Gitweku area walked to the area chief and the assistant chief’s offices to protest how slow the wheels of justice were turning.
The irate residents threatened not to go back to their homes until the assistant chief was arrested.
“It has been over one month and he is still roaming free. We know he is a rotten character and he is probably molesting other girls,” a resident, said.
According to county commissioner Karuku Ngumo, security officers took their time before taking action to consolidate their evidence and ensure the case was solid before the suspect is charged.
“If we rushed to arrest him, the case would have had loopholes that he could have used to trump the case,” he said.
“The people are angry because they do not know the process that is followed in such scenarios but we have prepared a good case that even the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has approved for prosecution."
The administrator is set to be charged with defilement at the Murang’a Law Court.
The commissioner further appealed to the residents who have information on other offences that the assistant chief could have committed to come forward and record statements to further strengthen the case.
The assistant chief had already been suspended as the ODPP is set to approve the case.
