Machakos County Commissioner Fredrick Ndunga has decried the rising numbers of suicide and incestuous defilement cases in the region.
Speaking on Friday at Maanzoni lodge, Mavoko sub-county, during a farewell party for the immediate former area County Commissioner, Esther Maina, who was recently promoted and transferred to Kakamega as the Western Region Coordinator, Ndunga said the twin challenges of suicide and defilement were bothering him since he took over the county leadership four months ago.
He termed the defilement cases in the county as “very high”, adding that the vice had now assumed abnormal traits where some men were defiling their under-age close relatives.
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“The worst of them all is what I would call incestuous defilement, and they are many here; we receive two or three cases every day,” he told the stunned audience, which included county and national government officials, business, religious and community leaders and the media.
He disclosed that the vices had continued to give him sleepless nights and appealed for help from local leaders.
“This is what has been bothering me since I came here, and it has made me to call for interfaith prayers from all church leaders, imams and any other faith leaders in Machakos since these are not normal occurrences,” said Ndunga, who is also a church minister.
On suicide, the county boss said that the county was recording one or two cases, with defilement recording two to three cases every day.
“If you check our daily reports, you can’t miss one or two cases every day,” he said.
This is the second time in as many months that the administrator is raising the red flag on the vices.
During Mashujaa Day celebrations, he raised concerns over the same issues and appealed to clerics to organize interfaith prayers to seek divine intervention.
On Covid-19, he called on local residents to strictly observe Ministry of Health protocols.
“Covid-19 threat is very serious. As from Saturday, the local county and national government officials will start by urging the locals to uphold all the guidelines and if we note that they are adamant, we will resort to enforcement,” he warned.
He noted that some were of the misguided view that when they are asked to protect themselves, they are doing it for the government.
“There are some people who are observing these guidelines whenever law enforcers are nearby,” he said.
In her speech, the outgoing county commissioner Maina thanked the Machakos community for the love and support they had extended to her during her one-and-half year stint.
She called on fellow civil servants to embrace servant leadership and rededicate themselves to the service of the people.
