For a 78-year-old sickly widow from Kibunga market in Turima location in Tharaka constituency, Tharaka Nithi County, fate must have conspired to make her life miserable.
The poor granny is currently being held at St Orsora Mission Hospital (Matiri) in Chiakariga Sub-county after she failed to pay the bill incurred for a fourth rape treatment on July 8.
Police investigations are yet to bear fruit fading hopes of arresting and prosecuting the criminal who also strangled the woman and rained on her blows and slaps.
The woman lives alone in a two-room mud-walled house sitting on 30 by 30 feet of her ancestral land on the outskirts of Kibung’a market where she was left by her husband who died several years ago.
Unluckily, the woman who has no relatives in the area lost her only two children when one was in Grade Five and the other before joining primary school over 40 years ago and most of the villagers think she was born with a barren womb.
For the last three incidences, the woman was only left cursing her unknown tormentors after police failed to arrest a single suspect for questioning.
Demolished wall
According to the woman, in the July ordeal, the rapist gained entry into her house after demolishing a section of the wall near the door at around midnight and gained entry.
Despite the fact that the criminal took time to demolish the wall, the granny could not hear because she is totally deaf and her fading sight can hardly identify anything at night.
She said after the man got hold of her, she tried to resist but the monster strangled her with one hand while beating her with the other compelling her to surrender.
She said after enduring the painful-bitter experience for hours, she pleaded with the rapist to allow her to go to for a long call in a pit latrine outside the house which he reluctantly agreed but insisted on accompanying her.
On arriving at the latrine, the old woman rushed towards a nearby rental house but unfortunately, her feeble legs could not rescue her and the youthful man got hold of her and slapped her twice sending her down before he vanished into the darkness after she screamed.
The residents including village elder, Ms Rose Njiru woke up and reported the matter to Turima Police Post before rushing the woman to Kibung’a Level Four Hospital at around 2am.
Specialist treatment
The medics attended the woman but later referred her to Marimanti Level Four Hospital where she was again moved to St Orsora Mission Hospital for specialist treatment.
“We received the rape victim at our facility on Saturday from Kibunga Level Four Hospital and we later moved her to St Orsola Mission Hospital for specialist treatment,” said Dr Andrew Njoroge, the Medical Superintendent in charge of Marimanti Level Four Hospital.
Though Dr Njoroge could not reveal the details of the patient’s extent of injuries, he said the case was serious.
The locals later recovered a pair of shoes in the thicket where the criminal fled into and authorities suspect that they belong to him.
Turima Chief, Mr Philip Mutugi told The Peak that they were still investigating with the hope of arresting the rapist so that they could take him to court to face charges.
In the other rape incidences, the criminal poured water on the mud-wall and easily demolished it gaining entry into the house for the heinous act.
Stronger house
The administrator said since the criminals take advantage of the fact that she lives alone in a poor house, she is deaf and partly blind, he would suggest that a well-wisher adopts her or the villagers build her a stronger house.
“Even as we investigate the recent case, we are looking for a permanent solution because the criminals are taking advantage of her desolate state,” said Mr Mutugi.
He appealed to the villagers to embrace the Nyumba Kumi initiative and to report any suspect to the authorities for investigation.
According to the residents, rampant bhang and illicit brew consumption is to blame for the increased criminal activities in the area and are appealing to both administration and security officers to fight the menace.
“Many young people have become drug addicts and that is why we are witnessing such shocking incidences,” said Mr Muriungi Gauku, a villager and businessman in the market.
