Unregistered Kisii orphanage shut down after defilement of a seven-year-old girl

An unregistered children’s home in South Mugirango, Kisii County has been shut down and all children evacuated, following the defilement of a seven-year-old girl allegedly by the facility’s proprietor.

Principal Secretary for Child Welfare Services, Caren Ageng’o, on Friday evening ordered the immediate closure of St. Peter’s Rigena Orthodox Orphanage and Church, after it emerged that the institution was operating without registration from the Ministry.

The incident reportedly took place within the compound of the orphanage, which hosts about 16 children. Authorities say the proprietor lured the minor into his house, located inside the facility, where the alleged assault took place.

Investigations further revealed that most of the children at the facility were either partial orphans or had both parents alive, raising questions about why they had been placed in the home in the first place.

“The assessment we have done shows that this institution does not meet the minimum standards required for a safe environment for children. It is not a suitable place for children to live, and that is why we have taken radical action to shut it down immediately,” said PS Ageng’o.

The PS also raised alarm over the fact that the suspect, who had been arrested earlier in the week, had already been released on unspecified bond terms, despite facing serious allegations.

“This raises a big question about our justice system. How can a person accused of molesting a child be released and return to the same compound where children still reside? This is totally unacceptable,” she stated.

Chief Executive for Children’s Services, Abdinoor Mohamed, who accompanied the PS during the inspection, criticised the placement of children with living parents in orphanages, saying it contradicted national child protection policies.

“The idea of orphanages is outdated. The government has social support programmes for vulnerable children, including orphans. These children should be supported within their families, not taken away from them unnecessarily,” he said.

Ageng’o urged communities living near children’s institutions to remain vigilant and report any cases of abuse to relevant authorities.

“It’s unfortunate that communities are often aware of abuse but fail to report. We must break the silence and protect our children,” she said.

The orphanage came to the attention of the public earlier this week when the minor reported the abuse to local authorities. The suspect was arrested and arraigned in court but was later released on bond under unclear circumstances.

The PS was accompanied by Abdinoor Mohamed, security chiefs, and other county officials as part of a multi-agency response team.