Residents of Kanyiriini village in Kandara, Murang’a County, are in shock after a middle-aged man accused the local church elder of sodomizing him.
According to the 39-year-old victim, the church elder, who also owns local businesses, gave him a bottle of whisky. As the man drank, he became disoriented, later waking up in the middle of the night to find that he had been assaulted.
The victim suspects he was drugged before the attack, mentioning that a small bottle of ointment was also found at the scene.
After confronting the church elder, the victim was taken to a hospital by the accused, who then disappeared. Despite filing a report at a local police post leading to the suspect's arrest, the investigation has since stalled.
The victim further claims he received threats and was offered money to drop the case and that the businessman was released under unclear circumstances.
He also alleges that an investigating officer at the station threatened him with arrest if he refused to withdraw the complaint, handing him Ksh. 60,000, which he used for medical expenses.
The man now faces social isolation and trauma, having been abandoned by friends and shunned by the community.
Kandara Sub-county Deputy Police Commander Pauline Letangule confirmed the incident but stated the case was concluded after the victim voluntarily withdrew his complaint.
She denied bribery allegations, clarifying that the businessman was released on police bond. She also noted that the case file was submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which found the evidence, including the P3 form, insufficient for prosecution.
