Embu mother seeks justice after children allegedly assaulted, doused with petrol by prison warden

A mother from Mugoko Village in Majimbo, Mbeti North in Manyatta Constituency is demanding justice for her two children, aged seven and six, who were allegedly assaulted by a prison warden attached to the Kenya Prisons Service at Embu GK Main Prison.

According to Josoline Kagendo, the incident occurred on December 5 last year while she was attending to her daily business at her kiosk. She stated that residents alerted her to reports that villagers were demonstrating near her home over an incident involving her two children.

Kagendo noted that she immediately rushed to the scene, where she found a large crowd gathered outside a house belonging to the alleged prison warden. She claimed the two children had their hands tied, with polythene bags covering their faces and ropes fastened around their necks.

Residents who responded to the incident alleged that the children had been assaulted, subjected to cruelty and doused with petrol, with fears that they were about to be set ablaze before villagers intervened and rescued them.

Residents further claimed that the alleged prison warden attempted to follow the mother and the children after the rescue, but villagers shielded them from further harm.

Five months after the incident, Kagendo says she has yet to receive justice for her children, accusing authorities of failing to take action against the suspect.

Nancy Wawira, a resident who has been vocal in demanding justice for the minors, alleged that the prison department was protecting its officer instead of ensuring accountability.

Wawira noted that residents have been unable to stage demonstrations outside the prison due to security restrictions, and claimed that the department has remained silent on what disciplinary or legal action, if any, has been taken against the officer.

She further alleged that Kagendo has been moved from one office to another in search of justice, with no tangible progress made months after the alleged incident.

Residents now claim the prison warden may have been transferred to Nanyuki in an attempt to frustrate efforts by the family to pursue justice for the two children.