Police condemn 'Kipkaa' tradition in Bomet, urge end to private settlement of child sexual abuse cases

Bomet residents have been urged to end solving cases on sexual harassment especially to the juveniles’ traditional best described in Kipsigis as Kipkaa.

Speaking during the opening of the 16 days of activism which began on Thursday, November, 27, 2025, Bomet central Sub-County Police Commander, Mr. Isaac Kimwele, said that the laws require such cases to be solved lawfully in order for the affected children to get justice.

“I want to strongly condemn the issue of solving sexual violations among our children traditionally in what we called Kipkaa yet we have our laws which guides us on legally solving it,” Kimwele said.

Kimwele noted that a number of cases in Bomet have been solved traditionally where the suspects and the complainants talk and pay some fines in order to end the case before getting to the court.

He stated that the parents and guardians must know that assuming such cases because of little money paid as fines would affect them later when the children get old to understand their cases.

He added that it will not be business as usual for them in future when their children ask them how they sacrificed their rights for small gains.

“When your child is sexually violated, there would be no amount of money that will be compared to them,” Kimwele said.

He added, “one day your child will learn that you engaged in Kipkaa to solve the issue of his/her sexual violation and let me tell you, it will not be good to you.”

Kimwele issued a forceful appeal to the public to actively participate in the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

He stressed that victims and witnesses must report all incidents directly to the police, noting that a significant challenge to achieving justice is the societal tendency for victims to handle violations privately, preventing law enforcement from intervening and ensuring legal redress.

Justice for GBV victims begins the moment a case is reported," Kimwele stated.

He added, "When community members choose silence or private settlement over official reporting, they inadvertently shield perpetrators and deny victims the legal protection and resolution they deserve. We must break this culture of quiet suffering."