A man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of defiling a 14-year-old girl in Taveta, Taita-Taveta County.
The sentence was secured by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) following a full trial in which the prosecution presented five witnesses and several exhibits to support its case.
Principal Magistrate Eugene Kadima found the accused guilty of defilement contrary to Section 8(1), as read with Section 8(3) of the Sexual Offences Act. He had also faced an alternative charge of committing an indecent act with a child under Section 11(1) of the same Act.
The court heard that the incident occurred between March 12 and 17, 2026, when the minor went missing for five days after attending primary school athletics competitions at a neighbouring school.
Her guardian reported the disappearance to the head teacher, who immediately launched a search for the pupil.
The head teacher later received information that the girl had been spotted with the suspect in Mwangaza as they walked towards a house where they were believed to be staying.
Concerned that the suspect could move the girl to another location, the head teacher alerted the authorities.
The head teacher, accompanied by police officers and the girl’s grandmother, proceeded to the house, where they found the suspect with the minor and arrested him.
The prosecution, led by counsel Louane Lwane, presented five witnesses and exhibits during the trial.
In his ruling, Magistrate Kadima found that the prosecution had proved the defilement charge beyond reasonable doubt before imposing the 20-year prison sentence.
The convict has 14 days to appeal against the conviction and sentence.
