The Garissa police have been given permission to hold a suspected paedophile for 14 days after he was allegedly found to have molested six children between the ages of 5 and 9.
After reports surfaced that Aden Ali, a teacher, was the main suspect in a case of sexual harassment, assault, and defilement involving children in his class, police detained the man.
At Ali's arraignment on Thursday in a Garissa court, detectives requested an additional 14 days to hold him while they record the statements of the parents of the children who allege they have been defiled.
Edward Imbwaga, the Garissa sub-county Police Commander, stated that the teacher was apprehended on Wednesday prior to his escape.
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More families have kept making statements to the police after his arrest.
“Aden Ali tulimshika kwa tuhuma za kuwanajisi watoto wadogo, leo tumeomba siku kadhaa kuendeleza uchunguzi tupate statements za waathiriwa na P3 forms,” said Imbwaga.
For investigators, the fact that Ali taught the kids he is allegedly defiling is even more unsettling.
He is currently being held by police at the Garissa, on the Police Station while the investigation is being conducted.
Human rights advocates in Garissa urged parents to watch out for their children at school, pointing out that defilement cases are widespread.
“Case tunareceive sasa hivi the rate is too high na watoto wanafanyiwa defilement wakiwa masomoni na cases zingine tunapata wanasiasa wanaingilia na hatutakubali,” Garissa County Gender CEC Hawa Abdi Sahal noted.
"Tutashirikiana ili hizi dhulma ziishe...hizi cases zimeongezieka haswa za kunajisi na kulawiti vijana," activist Muktar Dahir Osman said.
The Muslim Lawyers of Kenya Chairperson denounced the incident and promised to see to it that the children received justice.
Human rights advocates want parents to thoroughly investigate teachers' backgrounds before entrusting them with their kids.
