Police in Bungoma County have arrested a nurse attached to a private hospital on allegations of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old Form Three student who had been admitted for treatment. The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Martin Wekesa, is accused of raping the minor under his care, an incident that has sparked outrage among residents and calls for accountability within the health sector.
According to preliminary investigations, the girl had visited the facility on Friday night seeking treatment for malaria and wound dressing. It was during her admission that the nurse allegedly took advantage of her. Witness accounts from within the hospital indicate that a colleague on duty, while conducting routine rounds, reportedly found Wekesa in the act.
Police reports further revealed that after the alleged assault, the suspect confessed to hospital management. However, the victim’s family claims that instead of immediately escalating the matter to authorities, the hospital attempted to cover up the incident by instructing the student to bathe in an effort to erase evidence.
The student’s mother, Peninah Barasa, expressed her anguish as she narrated what her daughter told her. “My child said the nurse dragged her into an isolated area, stripped her, and raped her. Afterward, the hospital staff directed her to bathe, which I believe was done to destroy crucial evidence,” she said. The family has since called on authorities to ensure the case is not swept under the rug and that justice is served.
Bungoma South Police Commander William Letting confirmed the arrest, condemning the growing trend of defilement and sexual violence cases in the region. “Once we got the report, we moved swiftly to the hospital where we verified the claims. The suspect was immediately placed in custody, and charges have been filed. He will be arraigned in court to face the law,” Letting said.
The victim has since been taken for medical examination, with police assuring that all forensic evidence will be preserved and presented in court. Authorities have also indicated that investigations are ongoing to determine whether hospital staff acted negligently or attempted to obstruct justice.
This case has reignited debate about the vulnerability of patients, particularly minors, in private medical facilities where oversight and accountability are sometimes lax. Civil society groups in Bungoma have demanded stricter enforcement of patient safety measures and tougher penalties for healthcare professionals who exploit their positions of trust.
Community members who spoke to reporters expressed shock and anger at the incident, with many calling for exemplary punishment. “It is unacceptable that someone entrusted with saving lives and caring for the sick would instead harm a child in such a manner. The law must take its course,” said a local resident.
Police Commander Letting assured the public that his office is committed to addressing the rising cases of sexual abuse, warning perpetrators that they will not escape justice. “We are witnessing an increase in defilement cases in this county, and we want to send a strong message: anyone found culpable will face the full force of the law,” he emphasized.
As the case heads to court, the incident has placed a spotlight on the need for stronger safeguards in medical facilities, training on ethical conduct, and mechanisms for patients, especially young ones, to report abuse without fear of intimidation.
The nurse remains in police custody as prosecutors prepare to charge him with rape, defilement, and abuse of professional authority.
