Police in Gesusu Ward, Kisii County, have arrested three women suspected of helping to terminate the pregnancy of a schoolgirl. The arrests were made after the police received a tip-off from the public regarding the women’s illicit activities in the village.
The police raided an abandoned room where they found the women with the 17-year-old girl and immediately arrested them. The girl was taken to the hospital, while the women were held in police custody to assist with the investigation. Preliminary reports revealed that the women were hired by a village man, who is allegedly the girl’s uncle, to help terminate her pregnancy. The man reportedly wanted to cover up his involvement in the pregnancy so that the girl could continue with her studies.
The girl explained, “He has been taking me to his house during school holidays, but when we discovered that I was pregnant, he told me he had a good plan to save me from having a child before I completed school.”
The man was said to have hired the three women from their home in Marani Sub-County, Kitutu Chache North Constituency. Kisii County Police Commander, Charles Keses, confirmed the arrests and stated that the suspects had recorded statements with the police. They will be taken to court once the investigation is complete.
“Self-abortion or any abortion imposed by another person is a crime in Kenya, and if the suspects are proven guilty, they will be imprisoned according to the law,” he said.
Upon hearing the news of the alleged abortion, Kisii County Woman Representative Doris Aburi condemned the act. She blamed adult men for misleading young girls into engaging in sex outside of marriage and then abandoning them when they became pregnant. She also appealed to the police to be strict with suspects and ensure that they do not buy their freedom before being taken to court.
Aburi pointed out that poverty among families often leads young girls to engage in early sex, which results in unwanted pregnancies. She said many of these girls lack basic necessities such as sanitary towels, ointments, pants, and shoes, which makes them vulnerable to exploitation by adults. “As adolescent girls grow and need these materials for use, they miss them and are tempted to abuse their bodies with adults, ultimately ending up in the trap of early pregnancies,” she explained.
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The Woman Representative also urged communities to intensify guidance and counseling services for young girls, encouraging them to respect their bodies and regard them as temples of God. She criticized parents for leaving the responsibility of teaching life lessons solely to teachers and called for increased parental involvement to curb societal issues like teenage pregnancies.
Fr. Lawrence Nyaanga of Kisii University attributed such acts of lawlessness to the widespread consumption of illicit brews, such as changaa, which he said impair people’s judgment and lead to promiscuity. He urged communities to embrace godliness and follow biblical teachings on living a righteous life. Nyaanga also called on Nyumba Kumi groups and Chiefs to mount regular campaigns against the use of illicit brews and other drugs to help reduce the increasing crime rate in the area.
By Enock Okong’o.
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