Orphanage implicated in sex scam

By KENAN MIRUKA and PETER ATSIAYA

An orphanage in Gucha risks closure over allegations that girls at the centre are exposed to sexual abuse.

This week, Gucha Children’s Officer Caleb Makatiani accompanied by officials from the ministries of Education and Public Health conducted an impromptu inspection of Glory Children Centre a few kilometres from Ogembo town.

During the visit, it emerged a Standard Eight pupil had a four-month-old baby while two others were pregnant.

Mr Makatiani said the centre was operating without a licence contrary to regulations.

"Since 2006, we have had a new law that requires such orphanages to renew their operating licenses every two years. This centre is operating illegally," he said.

Pastor Meshack Nyarango, the head of the centre, denied the sex abuse claims. Said he: "That is news to me. I am not aware and I will investigate. This cannot happen here."

Bishop Moses Nyamora, the school’s director, said: "We are really working on the registration of the centre. We are a charitable organisation out to help the needy and we are doing everything possible to change the situation."

Disadvantaged children

Makatiani said he would recommend further action against the school.

"We can’t allow people to masquerade as charitable organisations and exploit disadvantaged children," he said.

Elsewhere, police broke up a protest by teachers who accused Rarieda DEO of allegedly protecting colleagues who had sexually molested their students.

Riot police blocked more than 100 protestors from ejecting local DEO David Mwandii from office.

The demonstrators, led by Kenya National Union of Teachers branch secretary Collins Oyuu, had marched to the DEO’s office.

Police arrested and detained Oyuu at the local station, but he was later released. The teachers accused Mr Mwandii of protecting a teacher who allegedly impregnated a schoolgirl.

"We have information the culprit is his relative that it why he is reluctant to discipline him," claimed Oyuu.

But Mwandii dismissed the allegations as false and malicious.

"Cases of teachers luring schoolgirls into sexual activities have been on the increase and we are dealing with them. We can’t protect anybody because rules are clear on the matter," he said.

The teachers also accused the DEO of highhandedness, which they blamed for the deteriorating education standards.

"Mwandii has subjected teachers to a lot of suffering since he was posted here. He has transferred and demoted most of us without following the right procedures," said Oyuu.

 

 

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