Kitui Court authorities concerned as defilement cases hot 100 annually

From left an unidentified court official, Kitui Chief Magistrate, David Mburu, and Lady Justice, Lucy Gitari, when they spoke to the media on Wednesday/MUSEMBI NZENGU

Authorities at the Kitui Law Courts have expressed concern over the rising cases of child defilement, with the county recording around 100 cases annually.

Kitui Chief Magistrate David Mburu called for concerted efforts to end the vice, which he said grossly violates the rights of innocent children.

“We have continued to see an increase in cases involving children, especially defilement. On average, over the last four years, our station here in Kitui has registered around 100 cases annually,” Mburu said.

Speaking on Wednesday during the launch of Children’s Service Month, celebrated every November, Mburu noted that as of last week, up to 80 defilement cases had already been recorded this year.

“We need to continue sensitising members of the public because they are often the same people who commit these offences against our children. I would not say that there has been a decrease in defilement cases,” he said.

He added that Kitui still has a long way to go, saying, “I will be happy the day I find that no defilement case has been brought to court.”

Mburu said the courts are playing their part, but members of the public must turn up as witnesses when called upon. Parents, he said, should ensure their children attend court proceedings in such cases.

“Most importantly, we all have a duty to protect our children and observe their rights so they are not violated,” he urged.

Lady Justice Lucy Gitari added that during Children’s Service Month, special attention would be given to cases involving minors. “Most of the pending cases will be prioritised this month,” she assured.

During the launch, members of the public were also sensitised on the need to bring children and witnesses to court to support ongoing cases.

INSTANT ANALYSIS

The rising cases of child defilement in Kitui county highlight a persistent and troubling challenge to child protection. With up to 100 cases reported annually and 80 already recorded this year, the data underscores both the prevalence of abuse and the urgent need for community engagement. Chief Magistrate David Mburu’s call for public sensitisation and parental involvement reflects the critical role of society in reporting and supporting prosecutions. Prioritising pending cases during Children’s Service Month, as noted by Lady Justice Lucy Gitari, is a step toward justice. However, sustained awareness campaigns, stricter enforcement, and proactive child safeguarding measures are essential to curb the trend.