C.K. (A Child) through Ripples International as Her Guardian and Next Friend & Ors v. The Commissioner of Police/Inspector General of the National Police Service & Ors, Petition No. 8 of 2012, High Court of Meru, [2012] eKLR (Kenya)

The petitioners are 11 children who were victims of "child abuse" and "defilement" as defined under relevant legislation on children and on sexual offenses. The petitioners allege that they reported the acts of defilement at various police stations but the police stations neglected, omitted, refused or otherwise failed to conduct a prompt, effective, proper and professional investigation into the petitioners' complaints or record the complaints in the police Occurrence Book, visit the crime scenes or interview the witnesses or collect and preserve evidence or take any other steps or processes as would have brought the perpetrators to account for their unlawful acts. Due to neglect or failure on the part of the police, the petitioners contended that they have suffered grave unspeakable, and immeasurable physical and physiological trauma while the perpetrators roam free, and continue to threaten the physical and psychological wellbeing of the petitioners, thereby neglecting petitioners' fundamental rights and freedoms under the constitution. Respondents contend that petitioners have not identified the perpetrators by giving their names and have not demonstrated how they are involved. However, the court found that these details have been sufficiently provided. The court subsequently found that the police failed to conduct prompt, effective and professional investigations, and infringed the petitioners' fundamental rights and freedoms under the constitution and general rules of international law. The ongoing failure created a climate of impunity for the commission of sexual offenses and in particular, defilement, making the respondents responsible.