Alarm over raising cases of incest in Bungoma

Webuye East Sub-County Deputy County Commissioner Joyce Onguso has raised alarm over rising cases of defilement, incest and teen pregnancies in Bungoma County.

Cases of some men preying on their minor daughters have been reported in the area and appealed to women not to leave their daughters with their husbands in case they separate or divorce.

Speaking after officially opening the office of the Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Maraka Division, Onguso said most  defilement cases involve close relatives, including biological fathers. 

She cited bizarre rituals and beliefs, separated partners, alcoholism, and drug and substance abuse as major factors contributing to the vice. The incidents are also attributed to ignorance, failure to punish past offenders and collusion between parents and suspects. 

"The war of 100 days on illicit brew has started as we also embark on chief baraza to help combat the vice. We are recording high cases of defilement majorly attributed to illicit brewers,” Onguso noted. 

She said some of the cases are in court while others have not been reported due to cultural norms which hinder reporting of defilement cases, especially those involving relatives.

“Any parent hiding incest or defilement cases risks being jailed. I urge mothers, if a man has defiled a girl or sodomised a boy, do not settle those matters at home; report it. They are being defiled by their biological fathers who are meant to protect them,” Onguso warned.

She said the war on defilement needs to involve village elders, chiefs and their assistants, police and other stakeholders through Chief Barazas.

“Let’s avoid kangaroo courts. When a minor has been defiled, the matter should be reported at the station and follow required legal procedures for prosecution in court. We need to save the girl child. Complainants and accused at times withdraw cases from court or resort to kangaroo court, thus making it difficult for the victim to get justice,” Onguso noted. 

Onguso called on members of parliament to amend the law on defilement. Currently, the Sexual Offences Act recommends a minimum sentence for anyone found guilty since punishment is determined by the age of the victim.

Those found guilty of defiling a girl under 11 years face mandatory life imprisonment; those aged 12–15 face imprisonment for a term of not less than 20 years, while those aged 16–18 face imprisonment for a term of not less than 15 years. 

The county has been in the spotlight due to alarming teenage pregnancy prevalence. Data shows at least 33,000 teenage pregnancies were recorded over the past two and a half years.  

According to GBV programmes coordinator Janet Khisa, the figures could be higher because the data captures only girls who sought antenatal care at health facilities.

Between January and May 2026, county health facilities had recorded 10,000 teenage pregnancies.

Caren Wanyonyi, Bungoma County Director in Charge of Special Programs, said the surge in defilement and teenage pregnancy requires collective action from all sectors, including the church.

She further noted there was a need for sensitisation through public baraza on the urgent need to combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV), teenage pregnancy, and defilement.

"We cannot win this fight alone. The church is a powerful voice in our society. I call upon the church to be at the forefront in protecting our women and girls," she said.

Chief Justice Martha Koome, while in Bungoma, described early pregnancy as a major child justice crisis, calling for urgent coordinated action to protect children and ensure justice for survivors. 

Koome noted that Bungoma has 125 pending defilement cases, 17 per cent of justice seekers go to court, 64 per cent prefer the Alternative Justice System and 19 per cent take no action. 

According to Rose Mayeku, the founder of Bungoma Teenage Mothers Empowerment, many young students who have been giving birth at home have been self-isolating after being rejected by their parents.

“This year we have lost two teenage mothers who left suicide notes, and no one talks about it. They are vulnerable and willing to be given a second chance to continue with their studies," Mayeku noted.

Mayeku states that for many local adolescent girls, pregnancy comes with challenges that extend far beyond preparing for childbirth. Poverty, stigma, interrupted education, limited access to reproductive health information, and social isolation often leave young mothers navigating pregnancy with little support. 

Mayeku's statement was echoed by Elgeyo Marakwet County Deputy Governor Grace Chesirek, who said there was an urgent need to protect the girls. “Mothers let us support our girls and take them back to school. To men and the young boys, let's not take advantage of the young girls and end up messing up their future, but let’s support them and ensure they complete their studies,” Chesirek noted.

Former Bungoma County Women Representative Dr Reginalda Wanyonyi said defilement cases are rampant and that the Ndengelwa rescue centre should be utilised so that it provides a safe home for teenage mothers who have no place to go. 

The chairperson of the Webuye Women Professionals organisation, Metrine Arabu, urged parents to provide counselling to children who give birth at home so that they do not go astray further.

“One of our key agendas is how to talk to our young girls, to nurture and mentor them so that as we exit the stage, we have a generation coming after us as professionals. It’s never the end of the road after giving birth; you have to be resilient and bounce back and become a better person,” she advised.

According to the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, Bungoma recorded the highest prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence.  

The Kenya Economic Survey 2026 listed Bungoma among the 10 counties with the highest teenage pregnancy prevalence.