Msambweni court raises concern over rise in child defilement cases

Msambweni Law Court in Kwale County has expressed deep concern over the escalating cases of child defilement within the sub-County.

According to the Chairperson of the Court Users Committee (CUC) and the Msambweni Law Court Magistrate Leah Kabaria, more than 150 cases of child defilement have been registered in the past two(2) years.

Ms Kabaria revealed that 67 of the cases were reported this year, highlighting a disturbing trend.

"This means that, on average, six(6) children are defiled every month, leading to a rise in cases between January and November," Ms Kabaria explained.

The magistrate was speaking at the launch of the National Children Justice Month at the Al Walidayn Rescue Centre, where she also pointed out that an additional 85 cases of child defilement had been recorded in 2023.

A key challenge in securing justice for victims of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), she noted, is the lack of sufficient evidence, which has resulted in a backlog of cases waiting to be heard and resolved in court.

To address this, she said the court is exploring diversion programmes as an alternative means of resolving children’s cases more efficiently.

"We are using diversion as an alternative dispute resolution method to expedite the handling of children’s cases, which often take too long to be processed through the court system," Ms Kabaria said.

She also urged parents to take greater responsibility for the safety of their children and to protect them from harmful practices that put their lives at risk.

In addition to child defilement cases, the Msambweni Court is also handling criminal charges involving children, including housebreaking, burglary, and robbery with violence.

To prevent such incidents, the court, in partnership with the Department of Children’s Services and other stakeholders, is focusing on community sensitisation programmes.

Msambweni Children’s Officer Johnstone Kivuli said efforts are underway to educate parents and guardians about child rights during the National Children Justice Month.

"This is an important time for the Children’s Court Users Committee to raise awareness on how parents can report cases of defilement and ensure that justice is served," Mr Kivuli said.

Manager of the Al Walidayn Centre Hawa Mwangi shared that the facility has successfully rescued over 300 children from across the county since its establishment in 2019.

The Centre provides a safe haven for children who have been victims of rape, assault, early marriages, and other forms of GBV.

"We are working closely with the judiciary and grassroots organizations like Haki Yetu to offer support to the growing number of defiled children," Ms Mwangi added.

Currently, the Centre is home to 65 girls and 70 boys, who are receiving comprehensive care and support designed for vulnerable children.