'They removed my trouser and crushed my balls and penis. It was so painful that I almost passed out'
Image: HILTON OTENYO
A Lugari family is asking for justice for their son who was allegedly castrated by a neighbour on claims he stole the man's calf.
The family of Morris Ndimu, 29, says police have refused to arrest Henry Miwani who he said orchestrated his castration in Evergrade Forest seven months ago.
Ndimu said Miwani hired three men who wrestled him to the ground inside the forest and crushed his balls using a burdizzo.
The suspect went to their home and asked him to accompany him to the forest to go and check his livestock which were grazing there. The forest is near Sipande village in Lugari subcounty of Kakamega where both men live.
“I am a herdsman so I did not suspect anything and I followed him to the forest," Ndimu told the Star during an interview on Tuesday.
When they arrived at a cleared part of the forest, Ndimu said he saw three men standing on the side. One man was holding a burdizzo.
“It is at this point that Miwani told me he wanted to teach me a lesson for stealing his calf. He held me by the hand and when I tried to wriggle myself free, the three other men hit me with a club on my legs forcing me to the ground under severe pain,” Ndimu said.
"They removed my trouser and crushed my balls and penis. It was so painful that I almost passed out.”
Miwani has denied the claims.
The matter was reported at Milimani police post in Mautuma, Lugari under the OB number 7/27/5/2019. A P3 form was issued.
Ndimu has five medical reports from Lumakanda County Hospital dated May 29, 2019, Turbo Subcounty Hospital (June 10, 2019), Webuye District Hospital (30/6/2019) and from Dr Joseph Sokobe of Eldoret (August 28, 2019).
The reports show the man’s private parts were injured.
A pelvic ultrasound medical report from the Webuye District Hospital confirmed that Ndimu sustained injuries on his testicles and urinary tract. "The victim suffered penile soft tissue injury and testicular features open wound," the report states.
Ndimu narrated how Miwani who is their neighbor came to their home on the fateful day lured him into accompanying him [Miwani] to go and check his livestock grazing at Evergrade Forest adjacent to their village, which he obliged.
Miwani has not been arrested. He accused Ndimu of stealing cattle and lying to the police.
Ndimu dropped out of school while in primary and has since been herding people's livestock for wages. He recorded another statement at Turbo police station and filled another P3 form.
Nothing has been done after the officers opened an inquiry into the assault claims.
Miwani has also been accused of accosting Ndimu’s grandmother Robai Nasike and also instigating the arrest of Peter Wasike who is Ndimu's witness in the assault claim. Again, Miwani has denied the claim.
Nasike was subsequently arrested for claims of stealing Miwani’s cattle and the police have already expedited the charges, a move that sparked an uproar in Sipande village.
Douglas Wanyonyi, Ndimu’s father, said he had made several trips to the Turbo police station and Directorate of Criminal Investigations in Lumakanda to have Miwani arrested. Those efforts were yet to bear fruits.
Philip Murunga, a member of the Sipande community policing, appealed to the Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai and DCI boss George Kinoti to intervene and have the suspect arrested.
“Irate villagers wanted to burn the suspect's home but we intervened. This is not the first incident Miwani is being involved in. Last year, he locked three children in a toilet on flimsy allegations for three days until villagers intervened,” Murunga said.
Lugari police boss Patrick Maundu said Ndimu's claims had been probed and it was found that he was lying. He said he sent an OCS with a doctor to verify the medical reports and realised the complainant had not been injured.
Ascertaining whether a complainant is injured or not is out of the scope of police work. Also, the family has queried why police opened an inquiry into the matter when there was a complainant and the assailant known.
Police can also open an inquiry where the matter is shrouded in mystery or when the assailant is not known. In Ndimu's case, the complainant is known, a P3 form was issued, OB booked and the suspect known.
Villagers claimed there had been bribery to kill the case, saying the suspect, the investigating officer and the OCS frequently share a table in social places in Turbo town.
Kakamega county police commander Bernard Muli on Wednesday said that the matter was investigated and the file sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji for directions.
He said the DPP directed that Ndimu be charged with giving false information to police. Ndimu says he has never been arrested and taken to court.
"The man complained that he had been castrated and when he was subjected to further tests it was discovered that he was normal," Muli said.
He said that a medical officer who filled Ndimu's P3 form admitted having been paid some cash to write the report.
The police boss, however, failed to explain why the medical officer was not charged with uttering a false document.
Ndimu's family denied the claims, saying they do not have money to bribe anyone. The family is unable to raise fare to Kakamega to report the matter to the Independent Police Oversight Authority.
Ndimu appealing Mutyambai and Kinoti to intervene and ensure justice is served.
edited by p. obuya
Image: HILTON OTENYO