By ROBERT WANYONYI
A girl who was allegedly raped by her father in Bungoma County has appealed to the Government to compel him to pay for her education.
The girl, who sat her Kenya Certificate of Primary Education examinations last year and later got a Form One chance at Busakala Secondary School, is yet to join after her father allegedly refused to pay fees.
The sobbing 15-year-old said the father had wanted to take her by force from her aunt’s place where she has been staying since the alleged rape incident in 2008.
“I suspected that he wanted me to go back home so that he can continue defiling me. I have tried to talk to my mother about what I have been going through, but she has refused to listen to me and instead taken my father’s side,” said the girl.
She said after the 2008 incident, she discovered that she was pregnant. When the father learnt of it, he took her to a mid-wife who performed an abortion.
With the assistance of a local human rights lobby, Muungano Family Empowerment Programme, the young girl sued her father for incest. However, the case has been dragging on at the Bungoma law courts.
The girl has appealed to well-wishers and the relevant Government ministries to assist her join Form One so that she can achieve her dream of becoming a pilot.
Muungano Family Empowerment Programme Co-ordinator Wilberforce Wanyama Lumbuku has urged police to re-arrest the girl’s father and commence fresh investigation after allegations emerged that he had sold off a piece of land, which he had used to bribe officials.
Displaying several copies relating to the girl’s case number 1021 of 2008, Lumbuku called for justice to be done, adding that the father wanted to take the young girl under his custody to continue defiling her.
Raised eyebrows
“He has completely refused to pay fees for her until she accepts to go back into his care. His reasons also raises eyebrows because he has told the girl that even if she finally agrees to go back home, he will only pay fees if she joins a day school and not a boarding school,” said Lumbuku.
The human rights officer also called for tough measures against court officials who were allegedly bribed to mess up the girl’s pursuit for justice.
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