Mombasa county police commander Peter Kimani confirmed that they had received reports on a minor who had been defiled inside a rescue centre called Okoa SASA Rescue Centre which is is located at Utange area within Kisauni Subcounty.
"I can confirm that the matter has been reported to police and investigations are ongoing awaiting filling of P3 forms and other requirements before we conclude investigations," Kimani said.
The police commander added that all those who failed to protect the interest of the vulnerable child will be held accountable for their actions one investigations are complete.
According to the statement made to the police by the minor, she was defiled several times inside the rescue centre.
The minor's mother told journalists that her firstborn daughter had been placed in the facility following claims of sexual abuse by the child's biological father, who has already been arrested and charged with the offence of defilement and indecent act.
The minor's father's matter is pending at the Shanzu law court.
The mother said the minor had been handed over to Concordia police officers for further interogation and statement recording by the area village elder, Mwanajuma Hamisi, after she learnt about her plight before she was handed over to a child protection volunteer who later informed the Kisauni Subcounty Children’s officer, Mr. George Tanui
Tanui, however, informed the volunteer to place the minor at Okoa SASA rescue centre again.
The mother alleges that she was later informed of her daughter's whereabouts and was at one point allowed to visit her at the rescue centre.
She further alleges that four months later she was called by one, Grace Odemba, the director of Okoa SASA rescue centre, who requested her to go and pick her child from the facility on January 3, 2025.
"Upon her arrival at our home, she was unable to urinate, and she kept on complaining that her private parts were painful, i examined her and found that she had fresh scars in her private parts. I took her to a nearby clinic but was turned away since I didn't have enough money for her to undergo several tests. I was, however, referred to Coast General Hospital, " the mother stated.
The matter has been reported at Kiembeni police station under OB. Number 33/10/03/2025
Contrary to the guidelines set out in the children's Act No.29 of 2022, where the children's department is mandated to take charge of the minors in need of care and protection, the girl was directly handed over to her family despite the fact that she was yet to testify against her father who is currently being held at the Shimo la Tewa GK prison.
However, the mother avers that during her release from the rescue centre, the children office was not informed.
The mother now claims that her daughter was removed from the centre following allegations of exposing a defilement ordeal that she underwent while at the centre.
The minor claims that during her stay at the centre, she was defiled by a minor who was housed at the centre, and due to the frequent defilement ordeals, she requested to be re- united with her family.
"During my stay at the centre ,l was defiled more that three times by the same boy who would sneak to where l used to sleep,when l reported it to the management l was scolded and afew days later l was taken back to my family,"she stated.
According to treatment notes from the ,Coast general referral Gender based Violence ( GBV) clinic dated March 3 ,this year the minor had been treated of inability to hold urine ( Urinary Incontinence) due to penetration , she further treated of pain while urinating due to Urinary Tract infection ( UTI)
The notes further revealed that she had a history of defilement and the doctor had recommend her to undergo physocial support through the GBV clinic.
On January 27 this year Tononoka children court deputy registrar ,Rita Orora had issued orders to Okoa SASA rescue centre to work closely with the Ministry of Education Kisauni Subcounty county to assist with the admission of the minor to Concordia primary school.
Further the DR ordered the centre,alongside the investigating officer to avail the minor to the coast general hospital Vikwtani as well as childline to offer counselling services,orders which were ignored by the government agencies .
At the time of her release from the centre she was yet to be treated ,nor offered any support following the alleged defilement from her father.
Additionally, Kisauni children's office was yet to assist her get enrolled to Concordia primary school
The court further issued orders to Vikwatani village elder Mwajuka Hamisi to hand over the birth certificate of the minor to the ,rescue centre to ascertain her age,since during her rescue she was the complainant in the matter.
"Take. notice that any disobedience or non observance of the order served here will result in penal consequences to you and any other persons disobeying and not observing the same ,"ruled the magistrate.
Written By: Peter Maseke.
