The trio, when first reported to Administration Police at Tingolo in Busia County, were ordered by the police to cut grass as punishment, got 15 years and seven years for the two offences, respectively, the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions told Nation.co.ke.
The victim, who is referred to as "Liz" to protect her identity, was attacked and repeatedly raped when she was returning home from her grandfather's funeral in a village in Busia in western Kenya.
The assailants attacked near her halfway home. Terrified and alone in the dark, she screamed for help but none came.
The men first beat her up to shut and then took turns raping her. Before she lost consciousness, however, Liz recognised three of the attackers, and two weeks ago she insisted she knew them not only by their names, but also their homes.
Neighbours who had heard her cry for help and who, for some reason, did not come to her rescue at the time of the attack — gathered before dawn and mounted a search, which eventually ended at a pit latrine.
When she came to her senses, she explained what had happened to her and named three of the attackers she recognised and was then rushed to a hospital.
Ms Linner Too, a counsellor at the Fistula Centre in Eldoret, said the girl arrived at the hospital just as she was beginning to relapse into a psychological and emotional abyss.
“She was traumatised beyond words,” says Ms Too. “She sounded very bitter and refused to talk to anyone. After a lot of counselling, we are glad she is improving.’’
WHAT? TO CUT GRASS AS PUNISHMENT?
