Abdikadir Okash—
[UPDATED PART] A gang of 15 men who allegedly raped two sisters in the full glare of their father in Bura, Tana River have not been arrested 14 days later. Instead, the father who was put to the ordeal of watching his daughters getting raped was arrested alongside his brother and a relative over suspicion of having a firearm.
“Police have arrested the father of the two sisters recently gang-raped by people who are still free… They are arresting their father only to claim that they have caught him with firearms.” said Nur Abdi, a cousin of the sisters.
He said the family had suffered a double tragedy following the rape and the arrest of the family members.
[continue reading our reporting on the incident four days ago]
Two civil society organizations Tuesday demanded an immediate
action taken against Bura Tana police boss for failing to
apprehend and subsequently arrest the 15-man gang who allegedly raped two sisters in the full glare of their father.
They also called on the government to speedily compel the security officials in the county to arrest the suspects for fear of causing similar heinous attack.
Speaking to the media in Garissa Town, activists Hassan Ismail of Womankind Kenya
and Ibrahim Aden of Change Agents said it was very unfortunate that
the police in the area failed their job to protect
and find justice for the two girls.
“It’s unfortunate that these criminals have not been apprehended ten
days after doing the despicable, shameful and dehumanizing act on
the two sisters while forcing their elderly father to helplessly
watch. This is total failure by the police and someone must take the
blame” said Hassan Ismail.
Hassan wondered why the police were taking too long to arrest the
suspects after their identity was publicised.
He said he was disturbed by the non-action attitude taken up by the police by not arresting the suspected rapists.
“We suspect powerful people are behind their freedom. The government must find justice for
the girls,” he said.
The victims in the rape case were attacked Friday the previous week by a gang of fifteen men they said were known to them. The girls, 16 and 22 years, were in the company of their father while on a mission to track down their lost camels. The ugly incident happened in Wayu
location in Bura, Tana River County.
“The lives of these girls and their father will never be the same
again, they have totally shuttered their dreams and aspiration, the
only hope [left] for them is the court of law. The suspects must be
brought to justice,” said Ibrahim Adan of Change Agents, adding that the county cannot pride itself for being too unjust to innocent people.
He said there is an imminent clash between the Ormo and Somali communities
if the 15-gang will not be arrested.
~Mandeeq254 contributed to this report
