Defilement cases is a serious issue in Sabatia Sub County of Vihiga County according to the area Children’s Officer, Emily Mageto who confirmed that there is rise in the issue following on the data given by hospitals, police stations and Children offices.
“Defilement is on the rise mainly because some people are scared of reporting the matter and prefer to solve it through kangaroo courts in families, where they compromise within the family because most of the perpetrators are family members,” remarked Mageto.
In an interview with KNA, Mageto confirmed that her role as a Children officer is to promote and safeguard the welfare of children in the Sub County.
She explained that they promote and safeguard welfare of children through implementing children act of 2022 and use all legal supporting instruments within the country and beyond.
Mageto added that they have core responsibilities which include family mediation and legal intervention in Sabatia Sub County.
“Through family mediation, we do integration and unification because when conflict exists in the family, children are mostly affected where they undergo custody issues, neglect issues, abuse and defilement,” noted Mageto.
When such cases arise, according to Mageto, their role is to assess the family, investigate the conflict and try to solve the issue, so that the parents can raise their children together.
Mageto told KNA that through legal intervention, the children office makes sure the children in conflict with the law are supported and represented in court, especially those without guardians or any other issues.
Mageto noted that they monitor children in Juvenile systems, rehabilitation centres and those in remand homes.
“In an incident where the child is in danger and in need of child protection, we rescue them and provide safety,” added Mageto.
Mageto explained that as a key component to the children’s office, through referral pathways, they do interventions and prioritize the child’s welfare and plan a way out for them.
To create awareness, Mageto confirmed that they hold public sensitizations to educate the public about children rights, roles, responsibilities and protection in different engagements with the community members.
“We also do data entry to ensure reports reflect at the county and national level to know the state of children in Kenya,” remarked Mageto.
In case of defilement reports, Mageto assured that the offices do their own investigations, talk to the children affected, offer psychosocial support and makes sure the children get treatment and lastly report to the police station about the incident.
“Once we have done all the necessary, we have the power to take the children and place them in an institution like the children’s home without any form of negotiation from the family members,” said Mageto.
In the children’s home, the children undergo therapy, protection and continue with their lives like schooling as the case proceeds.
Mageto acknowledged that they face few challenges in their work, including inadequate resources, understaff and inadequate funding which greatly delay their operation such as children rescue mission.
Mageto added that the child protection volunteers are not offered stipend, which is quite demoralizing for them since they have to move to different areas for rescue mission.
Mageto confirmed that culture within Maragoli community is a big disadvantage to them since they believe that children belong to the man, therefore, in case of a conflict, mothers leave their children behind.
She noted that another challenge is compromising within the community due to ignorance of children’s rights, roles and defilement cases.
Mageto pointed out poor parenting as the biggest challenge which leads to abuse and neglect in households.
Mageto regretted that courts take long for children to be given justice, a period of three to five years which is very demoralizing, disappointing the caregivers and makes the affected children to re-live the trauma over again.
Mageto reminded the community of the important upcoming celebrations event of the Day of the African Child, which will be held at Sabatia primary school in Sabatia Sub County, on June 16,2026 themed as ‘children have access to safe water and sanitation.’
Mageto called on stakeholders and partners to support the activity.
by Florence Oteng’o and Maureen Imbayi
