A Kisumu man has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of defiling and assaulting his 10-year-old daughter in a case prosecuted by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
The convict was found guilty by Maseno Magistrate’s Court Senior Principal Magistrate Hon. Lele Lucas Ikapolon of defilement contrary to Section 8(1), as read with Section 8(2) of the Sexual Offences Act, 2006, and cruelty to a child contrary to Section 152(1)(a) of the Children Act, 2022.
The prosecution, led by counsel Victor Kipng’etich, told the court that the offences occurred on diverse dates between January 2026 and May 18, 2026, in Kisumu Sub-County, Kisumu County.
The court heard that on May 18, 2026, the convict returned home while intoxicated, approached his daughter’s bedroom while naked, threatened her against speaking out, and proceeded to defile and assault her before burning her clothes.
Following the incident, the minor fled their home and sought refuge at a neighbour’s house. She later disclosed the ordeal to her teachers when she returned to school the following day, prompting the headteacher to alert the children’s officer and police.
The child was subsequently taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment.
To prove its case, the prosecution called six witnesses, including a clinical officer whose testimony and medical evidence supported the charges.
The court was told that the minor had sustained an injury to her right eye and blunt trauma to her lower abdominal region, with the clinical findings consistent with the alleged assault and grievous harm.
The accused had denied the charges, forcing the prosecution to present evidence to establish his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
In his ruling, Hon. Ikapolon said the prosecution had successfully proved both charges, dismissing the accused’s denial in light of the evidence presented before the court.
“The prosecution proved the principal charge of defilement and the separate charge of cruelty to a child beyond reasonable doubt. The accused’s denial does not raise a reasonable doubt in light of the totality of the evidence,” the magistrate ruled.
The court subsequently convicted the man on both counts and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
The convict has 14 days to exercise his right of appeal against the conviction and sentence.
