By Betty Luke
Police in Isiolo are holding a 21-year-old man in connection with a sodomy case involving a 7-year-old boy in Kiwanjani, Wabera Ward.
The suspect Feisal Adan Mohammed is said to have aided the main suspect, Abdullahi Abdi, who is still at large.
Reports indicate that the minor was sexually assaulted within Al-Hidaya mosque premises last Saturday, an incident that has sparked uproar from a section of residents and human rights defenders.
“It’s saddening that the places of worship where we thought our children were safe have turned out to be assault scenes. It’s really unfortunate,” noted Isiolo Gender Watch Executive Director Grace Lolim.
Acting County Police Commander Pius Mbithi said a medical examination presented a case of attempted sodomy.
“The suspect is in custody and will be arraigned upon completion of the ongoing investigations. We are also trailing the main suspect who went into hiding after the heinous act,” noted Mr Mbithi.
The police boss warned that legal action would be taken against the mosque leadership if found culpable as well local elders over alleged plans to handle the case locally through Maslaha.
“The law is very clear on how cases on Sexual and Gender Based Violence should be handled. No Kangaroo court should be used to handle such a case,” he said.
While condemning the incident, human rights defenders revealed that the case was the second one in the area with the perpetrator of the previous one having not faced the law over crime meted against a 10-year-old survivor.
“There was a similar case involving a 10-year-old boy early this year and we fear there could be more that have gone unreported. This is a worrying trend,”noted Ms Lolim.
Another activist Anab Kassim called for disbandment of the said the mosque committee over failure to condemn the incident.
“Children’s rights are non-negotiable. Justice must be served to act as a lesson to other perpetrators of such incidents,” he said.
Adan Ibrahim criticized the slow pace of justice.
“The files are not ready, yet the perpetrator is on the run. Justice delayed is justice denied,” he said.
Police have called on residents to volunteer information to aid the arrest of the prime suspect.
