By Amenya Ochieng
Residents of Kiangwe in Lamu East have raised the alarm over a surge in defilement and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases, urgently calling on the national government to establish a local police post to improve reporting and access to justice.
The appeal was made during a public baraza at the Kiangwe Social Hall, where Muslim Women Advancement of Rights and Protection (MWARP) Lamu coordinator, Umulkheir Ahmed, highlighted the crisis.
She linked the high prevalence of violence, particularly within the Boni community villages, directly to the absence of nearby police stations.
“The nearest police station where GBV and defilement cases can be reported is in Kiunga police station which is almost 80 kilometres away, which leaves the possibility of such incidences not being reported very high,” Umulkheir stated.
She further stated that the lack of police stations, has affected reporting incidences that occur within the five Boni villages ; Milimani, Kiangwe, Pandanguo, Barsuba and Mangai due to costly logistics in accessing justice, given that most villagers from the Boni area are poor.
“We would like to urge the national government to tighten up and build police posts for the Boni community villages, which have long suffered the brunt of being marginalized areas,” she said.
Sentiments echoed by Daniel Joshua damise , a Lamu court clerk who further urged the Kiangwe residents to avoid the culture of “Maslah” in a bid to hold the perpertrators of GBV and defilement accountable.
Maslah is an off book alternative resolution system where the perpetrator pays for defiling minors and GBV disputes.
The court official further urged the community to avoid informal “kangaroo courts” when handling sexual offence cases, saying such practices deny survivors the justice they deserve.
“Resolving sexual offence matters outside the legal system undermines the progress we have made in addressing this menace,” he said.
He further called on parents and guardians to take charge of their young ones and address issues when such cases arise with the police.
Lamu Probation Officer Rehema Milami detailed the severe impact of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) on children.
She outlined the correct procedures for handling these cases, stressing the critical need to preserve evidence and report incidents immediately through official legal channels to ensure justice and protection for survivors.
