BUNGOMA, Kenya — Police in Bungoma have arrested a male nurse at a private medical facility on serious allegations of raping a Form Three student who was admitted for wound dressing and malaria treatment.
The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Martin Wekesa, was reportedly apprehended in the act on Friday night by a colleague who was making rounds in the wards. Wekesa is said to have acknowledged the incident to the facility’s management.
However, the victim’s family has come forward, alleging a deliberate plot by the private facility to conceal the crime. They claim the minor was instructed to bathe immediately after the alleged assault.
Peninah Barasa, the victim’s mother, voiced the family’s concerns in a direct quote, suggesting a cover-up attempt by the hospital: “Mtoto alituambia huyo daktari alimvuruta na akamvua hizo nguo, na mahali walikuwa hakukuwa na mtu mwingine lakini the following morning after hicho kitendo kufanyika saa sita usiku walimwambia mtoto wetu aingie bafu aoge. They are trying to conceal the evidence.”
(The child told us that the doctor dragged her and removed her clothes, and where they were there was no one else, but the following morning after the act happened at midnight, they told our child to enter the bathroom and wash. They are trying to conceal the evidence.)
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Bungoma South Police Commander William Letting confirmed the incident and the subsequent arrest. He expressed deep concern over the accelerating number of defilement cases in the region and issued a firm warning to perpetrators.
Confirming the prompt police response, Commander Letting stated: “Police officers walipopata hio report mara moja wakaenda kwa hiyo hospitali na wakadhibitisha kisa hicho na pia wakamshika huyo mshukiwa ambaye tuko naye hapa korokoroni. Tumefungulia mashtaka na anangoja kupelekwa kortini.”
(When police officers received that report, they immediately went to that hospital and confirmed the incident, and they also arrested the suspect, whom we have here in custody. We have opened charges, and he is awaiting arraignment in court.)
The police commander cautioned that offenders of such crimes would be dealt with in accordance with the law, as the investigation and legal process proceed.
