Vihiga leaders warn youth as elderly women face rising rape cases
By Enock Amukhale, October 27, 2025Leaders in Vihiga County have raised alarm over surging gender based violence and rape cases among elderly women.
Speaking on Monday, October 27, 2025, at an event in Vihiga, Women’s Representative Caroline Angote expressed concern over the number of cases where women are being raped and killed by criminals in various parts of the county.
“Cases of gender based violence are on the rise in Vihiga County. Our old women are being raped and even killed. Our young children are being sexually molested. These cases are being committed by our young boys. They should style up,” Angote warned.
“Cases of incest and Sodomy are also on the rise. Our young boys are not safe. The church should come out and preach to end such vices among our people.”
She pointed at a case where 80 years 80-year-old woman was raped and killed by unknown assailants last week in Luanda, adding that children are also being sexually molested by their close relatives.
On his part, the Vihiga Governor, Wilber Ottichilo, has attributed cases of gender-based violence to drug abuse among the perpetrators.
He noted that most of the perpetrators of gender-based violence abuse illicit alcohol and other substances.
“Many of these heinous acts are done by youths who are under the influence of drugs such as bhang, which is commonly consumed by youth. We are going to take actions to see our women and girls live in a safer environment,” he said.
Murkomen scoff off
This comes days after the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen voiced concern over the rising cases of rape and defilement.
“GBV remains a big challenge, especially in this region, particularly in areas where there are tea plantations. The security teams and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations have done a good job of weeding out the perpetrators, but more needs to be done,” Murkomen said.
“The severity of the bail terms and the seriousness with which the Judiciary takes sexual offences cases is laudable.”
At the same time, the CS expressed concern about rising cases of gender-based violence in Vihiga County, pointing out that some men are now victims of abuse at the hands of their wives.
Speaking on Saturday, September 6, 2025, during the 37th Jukwaa la Usalama forum at the County Commissioner’s residence grounds, Murkomen said that gender violence in the region takes different forms compared to other areas.
“In some other areas, it is women who are suffering most, but here also men are suffering, because there are also women who are abusing and beating their husbands and their men,” he stated.
Murkomen stressed that this is an issue society must confront openly if peace is to be restored within families and communities.
He linked the problem to deeper social and economic challenges. He explained that land disputes are a major cause of tension in Vihiga, a densely populated county with limited land sizes. In many families, land has been subdivided over generations until it is too small to sustain livelihoods.
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