Police in Homa Bay are holding a 45-year-old pastor after he allegedly defiled a 13-year-old minor at Kopiyo village in Kothidha North sub-location.
The man of the cloth identified as Joseph Were Owigo was arrested after the minor's mother lodged a complaint with local authorities.
The suspect was frogmarched to the police station by villagers as angry boda boda operators bayed for his blood. He escaped death narrowly after the intervention of the police.
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According to Homa Bay Sub-county Police Commander Sammy Kosgei, the Grade Four pupil fell ill and was taken to the pastor for prayers when the suspect sexually assaulted her.
He said the minor was defiled in a private room set aside for "special prayers".
The mother became suspicious after the minor developed difficulties in walking. After questioning, the minor opened up on the ordeal she underwent at the hands of the pastor.
The incident is said to have taken place on Saturday, March 11 2023.
"According to the information we have received, the minor was sick and was taken to the said preacher for prayers so that she could be healed, unfortunately, he took advantage and defiled her," the police boss revealed.
The girl was taken to Homa Bay Teaching and Referral Hospital for treatment and assessment, after which the results will be used as evidence against the suspect in court.
"We are still holding the suspect in our police cells waiting for the assessment results from the hospital before we can arraign him in court as soon as possible," he said.
Further, the officer raised an alarm over rising cases of defilement, saying his office receives four to six defilement cases a month.
To avoid such cases, the commandant advised parents not to trust their children, especially minors with strangers.
He, however, warned that they will not tolerate such acts and that whoever is found culpable will face the full force of the law.
Owigo is expected to be arraigned in court on Wednesday.
