One initiate dead, two injured after being tortured during seclusion

The tragic death of a Grade Nine boy and the brutal assault of another during the seclusion in Period after initiation has sparked outrage among the Nakuru residents who are fearing for their children’s safety.

Parents, community leaders, and authorities have raised alarm over the assault incidences involving initiates which have resulted to the loss of one life and injuries on the other.

In the most recent incident which happened on November 24, a pupil from Keriko Central in Menengai ward boy succumbed to severe injuries allegedly inflicted by his caregiver, after being in seclusion for three days after his initiation.

According to village chairman Amos Ng’ang’a, the boy had been living under the care of his grandfather. Ng’ang’a says he only learned of the death when some family members attempted to hire a vehicle to transport the boy’s body to the morgue.

“I had to step in and tell them this is a police matter. That’s when DCI officers arrived and took charge. After the post-mortem, it was noted that his intestines had ruptured from the beating he received. He also had a blood clot in the head and extensive injuries on his private part,” Ng’ang’a says.

Nakuru North sub county police commander Lilies Wachira says three people have since been arrested and are currently in police custody.

The boys death comes in the wake of another similar incident at KCC Slum in Naivasha, two brothers aged 14 and 15 are currently recovering from trauma after allegedly being assaulted by their caregiver.

Their father, John* (not his real name to protect the minors), says his sons were circumcised on November 11,2025. Due to financial constraints and the environment they live in, he rented a small room where they could recover, entrusting their care to a young man from the community.

 “It was during my visit to my sons November 21, that I learnt they were being tortured. This had started a day after they were circumcised. They were being electrocuted using a phone charger and were also being whipped,” John recounts.

He says he only discovered the extent of the abuse after his son let in on him and showed him his injuries. He notes one of his sons had serious fresh wounds on his butt and legs while the other brother had not been cared for such that he had to be redressed.

 John* says he has reported to the police and he hopes justice will be served for his sons.

 “Those involved in assaulting my sons are 10 boys. Some of them are on the run and so far, no one has been arrested,” he says.

In response to the tragedy, the community in Menengai has introduced stricter safeguards among them one that requires only the designated caregiver for each boy to access them during recovery.

Ng’ang’a says the community, elders, and local authorities have agreed to closely monitor the process to prevent further harm.

KCC chairman, on the other hand Francis Mugane, notes that they are still in pursuit of these 10 boys and once they find them, they will be handing them over to the authorities.

Mugane concludes that the recent incidents have reignited calls for stricter oversight, and the protection of boys undergoing circumcision, an important cultural rite now increasingly threatened by abuse and negligence.

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