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{
"id": 254791,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/254791/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. M. Kariuki",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister, Office of the President",
"speaker": {
"id": 367,
"legal_name": "Kariuki Mirugi",
"slug": "kariuki-mirugi"
},
"content": " Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. On 29th, March, 2006, Prof. Ruth Oniang'o rose on a point of order to seek a Ministerial Statement on the attack and rape of students at Kangubiri Secondary School. I wish to respond as follows:- Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as I stated in my brief statement on the subject last week on the April 4, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 299 Floor of this House, that incident took place outside the school compound, and not within the school compound as was erroneously implied. But that fact, notwithstanding, it is important to reiterate that a serious crime was committed and investigations into the incident are almost complete. I wish to assure the House that the Ministry of Education has already moved with speed to address some of the administrative lapses that were partly responsible for the occurrence of that unfortunate incident. According to the information gathered after the incident, it was reported that the students of Kangubiri Secondary School planned to go on strike on 26th March, 2000, after the principal allegedly failed to address their grievances. On 27th March, 2006 at 2.00 a.m., the students decided to walk to Kagumo, a distance of eight kilometres away, in order to present their grievances to the District Education Officer (DEO). On their way to Kagumo, the shouts by the girls attracted students of Kaigonde Day Secondary School, whose homes are in the locality. They attacked the girls and, in the process, raped three of them. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, investigations into the incident commenced immediately. The rape report was made at Nyeri Police Station. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, during the investigations, five boys of Kaigonde Day Secondary School were arrested in connection with the rape, and will soon be arraigned before court after the completion of investigations under Criminal Investigation File No.255/171/060. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have stated that the Ministry of Education is definitely in a better position to elaborate further on measures it is putting in place to strengthen the administration of girls' secondary schools country-wide. However, it is important to note that, at the time of the Kangubiri incident, which took place at night, neither the principal nor the duty teacher were within the school compound. That is definitely an unacceptable lapse in the management of girls' schools. If the contrary was the case, probably a report could have been made to the police in time for prompt intervention. Finally, the reduction in the number of rape incidents can never be simply attributed to security alone. Those incidents are definite signs of increased societal decadence, which calls for the collaboration of all, including religious leaders, youth, parents, the media and every citizen. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is my hope that, when the Sexual Offences Bill comes up for debate, hon. Members will seriously address some of the gaps and issues that continue to lead to the escalation of that crime. Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir."
}