By L, KNA
Police officers in Chepalungu Sub-County in Bomet county have launched a manhunt for a man suspected of defiling his three-year-old daughter.
In a disturbing incident that highlights the deep wounds inflicted by gender-based violence (GBV), the man allegedly defiled his own daughter in Bomet County over the weekend.
KNA established that Sharon Langat, a resident of Singoiwek village in Sengemik Sub-location, reported to authorities that her husband, Stanley Langat, had defiled their child.
The victim was immediately taken to Olbutyo Health Centre for a medical examination, and a P3 form was completed. The suspect remains at large, and police are actively working to apprehend him.
The incident underscores the alarming rate of GBV in Bomet County, which is reportedly above the national level, making it a hotspot area for the vice.
According to Lily Chepkemoi, the County Gender Officer, her office receives GBV cases, including defilement on a weekly and monthly basis from hospitals and police stations.
“A significant number of these cases are rooted in ignorance and our office is conducting extensive sensitization efforts through chiefs, assistant chiefs, and village elders to educate the public,” said Chepkemoi.
She added that the county is also focusing on advocacy work to prevent such incidents from occurring.
Similarly, on her observation as the Gender Officer, she noted that Poverty is a major driver of GBV.
She highlighted the government’s efforts to address this through socioeconomic empowerment.
This includes the distribution of Affirmative Funds, such as the Women Enterprise Fund (WEF) and the Youth Enterprise Fund (YEF), to help uplift vulnerable communities and reduce the financial pressures that can lead to violence.