On February 21, Mary*, a food vendor in Kwa Amos estate in Nakuru City, left her two-year-old twins in the care of a friend while she stepped away to use the bathroom.
At the time, they were being fed but shortly after they went outside to play with other children.
However, as she left the bathroom, Mary was drawn to a commotion outside her gate. Curious and alarmed by the sound of women screaming, she rushed outside and found one of the women holding her son who was crying uncontrollably.
When she was told to check on him, she rushed back into the house and discovered that he was bleeding.
He had been defiled by an unknown assailant who had lured him into an abandoned building covered in thick bushes, about 100 meters from their home.
According to Mary, her son was rescued by a woman who happened to be passing by the building and heard his cries.
“Everything happened so fast. I had just left him while he was okay and the next minute my son was bleeding and in pain. The woman who rescued him said the man ran off when she approached. I checked my daughter and thankfully she was okay,” Mary told Nation.Africa.
Mary reported the matter at Kabatini Police Station before rushing her son to Bahati Sub-county Hospital for treatment.
A resident of Kwa Amos village in Bahati sub-county in Nakuru County shows where the two-year old boy was allegedly sodomised in this photo taken on March 3, 2025.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
The minor was later referred to Nakuru Teaching and Referral Hospital where he underwent reconstructive surgery and remained admitted for five days before being discharged last Saturday.
However, the trauma from the incident has left lasting effects on him.
Mary says her son is now terrified of strangers, especially men. He has also developed difficulties relieving himself due to the injuries sustained.
“I no longer allow him to go outside and play. He is terrified of men and if he sees any man coming close to him, he starts crying. I want justice for my son. He did not offend anyone… he is just a child and detectives say they are still trying to trace the suspect,” she pleaded.
“The police told me they are still looking for him. Some samples were taken, and we are still waiting for feedback. I just want this man caught,” she said.
As a single mother and the sole provider for her children, the situation has also had financial repercussions.
“I had to close my food vending business because I don’t feel safe. I don’t know if it was one of my customers who did this to my child. I fear for my other children and myself. Feeding them has become a problem. We depend on well-wishers now,” she added.
According to Nakuru North Sub-county Directorate of Criminal Investigations Officer Josephine Wambui, the case is under active investigation.
Residents are however growing impatient, saying insecurity has been on the rise in the area particularly due to the growing presence of idle youth engaged in crime and drug abuse.
Ms Grace Wambuia, a resident, said parents are now afraid to send their children on errands fearing they might also be targeted.
Grace Wambui, a resident of Kwa Amos village in Bahati sub-county in Nakuru County, during an interview on March 3, 2205. She said they are a worried after a two year-old boy was sodomised.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
“We are not safe. If they can turn on a two-year-old, what about the rest of us? We wanted to clear the bushes where the attack happened but we fear the owner might accuse us of trespassing. We will approach him to discuss a solution,” she said.
Mr Peter Maina noted that crime in the area has worsened with young people increasingly turning to drugs. He said the abandoned structure where the child was defiled has become a hotspot for drug users.
“Some of these children have even dropped out of school to sell bhang. They are protected by older youth who contract them for the business. This issue is getting out of hand,” he lamented.
Mr Maina himself was a victim of crime two years ago when robbers broke into his home in broad daylight and stole valuables. The culprits were never arrested.
“There are no police patrols. We only see them when something happens and then they disappear again. If they conducted regular patrols, this youth menace would be solved,” he added.
