KNUT Chairman, Western Region, Patrick Chungani has petitioned MP’s to reject the proposal by the court of appeal to lower the age of consent from 18 to 16 years.
Speaking at a funeral in Shinyalu constituency, Kakamega County, the teachers’ union boss said that instead of being lowered, the consent age should be increased to 20 years because, “we must exist in a morally upright society.”
Two weeks ago, three judges, Roselyn Nambuye, Daniel Musinga and Patrick Kiage, ruled that time was ripe for the country to consider changing the Sexual Offences Act, citing lengthy jail terms imposed on young men convicted of defilement.
They made the observation in a case where they reversed a 15-year sentence slapped on a man who had impregnated a 17-year-old girl.
“We have our children to take care of and if we allow this to happen we shall be giving a leeway to an immoral society. Young people will be exposed to issues that need to be handled by adults early in life yet they may not be able to carry out the responsibilities. This will also affect education in this country.” Chungani stated
The Knut boss said that at 16 years, children are not physically and mentally well developed and they lack ability to make informed choices and decisions.
“African kids take time to mature and some of them at the age of 16 are still in Primary school and yet you want them to be called adults, this can’t work.” Chungani said.
According to the judges, the country should discuss challenges facing teenagers, morality, autonomy, protection of children and the need for proportionality in punishing sex pests.
They said debate on lowering age of sexual consent was long overdue as men were languishing in jail for sleeping with teens.
Chungani also cautioned the government against taking too long to employ thousands of trained Teachers who are languishing in poverty.
He lamented that the government was stealing from such teachers for the years they stay out of employment.