A Malindi man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after being convicted of defiling a seven-year-old boy in Kilifi County.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) said Justin Karisa Thoya was sentenced by Malindi Resident Magistrate Eva Mirriam Adhiambo after the court found him guilty of defilement contrary to Section 8(1) as read with Section 8(2) of the Sexual Offences Act.
The offence occurred on June 14, 2025, in the Jacaranda area of Malindi Sub-county.
According to the prosecution, the boy had gone out to graze livestock when Thoya allegedly asked him to help look for another cow in nearby bushes.
The child later disclosed the incident to his mother, who took him to hospital for examination and treatment.
A medical officer who examined the boy testified that he had sustained injuries consistent with the account presented to the court. The investigating officer also produced a birth certificate to establish the child’s age.
The prosecution, led by counsel Ahmed Omar, called four witnesses in support of its case.
In her judgment, Magistrate Adhiambo found that the prosecution had proved the victim’s age, the identity of the perpetrator and penetration beyond reasonable doubt.
Thoya had earlier been released on bond but reportedly failed to attend court for eight months. Malindi DCI officers, working with officers from Kizingo Police Station, later traced him to Hindi in Lamu County and rearrested him.
The court subsequently cancelled his bond before the trial proceeded to its conclusion.
Thoya was granted 14 days to appeal against both his conviction and sentence.
