Child activists and government officers are campaigning to end sexual abuse involving minors in rural Naivasha.
They have identified villages around Ndabibi and Moi Ndabi as the areas those most plagued by early marriages.
The campaign comes a week after a Form 3 student was arrested and arraigned for allegedly defiling a 10-year-old village girl.
Sakina Mohammed from Lifebloom International said the trend was alarming and many cases are not reported.
Many of the cases involved students and drug abuse has played a role in increasing cases of abuse.
“We are concerned by increasing cases of sexual abuse in Ndabibi and Moi Ndabi areas and it's time action was taken before more minors suffer,” she said on Tuesday.
Mohammed said her organisation was recording at least two cases of sexual abuse involving minors and women every week.
“We have also recorded tens of cases of early marriages where minors are dropping out of school to get married with the knowledge of their parents,” she said.
The activist said they have launched campaign with teachers and government officers to end the increase in early marriage and sexual abuse.
In the latest case, the student allegedly wooed the minor into his room using some sweets before repeatedly defiling her and later dumping her by the roadside.
Naivasha OCPD Samuel Waweru said the student has been detained at Kongoni police station.
He added that they would undertake an age assessment of the student before charging him with a number of offences.
“We have in custody a secondary school student who is alleged to have defiled a minor. Ourofficers are processing the case before charging him in court,” he said.
(Edited by V. Graham)
