Students protest over alleged rape of colleague at bathroom
Form Four students at Lugulu Girls High School in Bungoma County took to the streets yesterday to protest alleged defilement of their colleague on Saturday morning.
The 306 candidates trekked for more than six kilometres from the institution to Webuye Police Station, demanding immediate arrest of the perpetrator whom they claimed was being protected by the principal.
Irate students, who carried placards, demanded justice for the suspect aged 16, saying her future had been ruined.
The victim is said to have been defiled while taking a bath at Muliro Dormitory before going for morning preps.
“Our colleague had woken up as has been her routine to take a shower before heading for morning studies when a naked man appeared and defiled her,” a student claimed.
They also claimed the culprit gagged the victim before raping her.
She was rescued by a fellow student who appeared at the scene, forcing the alleged defiler to take to his heels.
Other students who woke up following the screams could not establish who the man was.
The victim was immediately taken to the school’s clinic where nurses administered her first aid.
Addressing the press at Webuye Police Station, the students accused the principal of covering up the incident.
Takes action
They stated that the principal had failed to report the incident and had also threatened to take action against the witnesses.
“After the incident, the school head assembled and admonished us, saying we should not tarnish her image since she wants to scoop and retain the principal of the year award, which she won last year,” a student who sought anonymity said.
A brief from the police indicated that the headmistress had reported that students were protesting while demanding to be addressed by the Education Ministry officials because the school administration had failed to address their grievances.
Consequently, police visited the school and established that the students were protesting an incident where an unknown male had allegedly attempted to defile a student.
The would-be rapist fled the scene when his would-be victim screamed for help, the brief added.
Yesterday, the students accused some of their teachers and subordinate staff of sexually harassing them.
County Quality Education Assurance officer Caleb Omondi pleaded with students to go back to school as the matter was being addressed.
He assured them that police have taken up the matter and the perpetrator will be arrested as soon as possible.
Bungoma East police boss Valerian Obore asked the students who witnessed the case to feel free to present evidence and witness statements to police.
