A man in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County, has been sentenced to 100 years in prison for defiling his two daughters aged eight and 1.5 years old.
In a statement on Thursday, April 18, 2024, the Office of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (ODPP) said the man committed the crime on October 17, 2023, in Kipkenda village, Keiyo North Sub County, Elgeyo Marakwet County.
Iten Law Courts Principal Magistrate Virginia Karanja, while sentencing the man, acknowledged that the crime is prevalent in the country.
"Iten Law Courts Principal Magistrate Hon. Virginia Karanja has sentenced a middle-aged man to 100 years in prison for defiling his own daughters, aged 8 years and 1.5 years. The accused is believed to have committed the heinous act against the minors on 17th October 2023, in Kipkenda village, Keiyo North Sub County, Elgeyo Marakwet County," ODPP stated.
"Hon Karanja agreed with the submissions made by Prosecution Counsel, Ms Bessie Gikonyo, on the maximum sentence of life imprisonment to be meted out to the accused. She acknowledged that the offence is prevalent in the county and that deterrent measures should be put in place."
The prosecution lined up four witnesses against the convict including the eight-year-old victim and a medical doctor.
"While delivering her verdict, the magistrate emphasised that the compelling evidence presented by the four prosecution witnesses, including the 8-year-old victim and a medical Doctor indeed confirmed that the accused committed the offence. She also highlighted that the act greatly affected the children and the mother and that they had to undergo psycho-social support before testifying in court," ODPP added.
Man jailed for life
In a separate incident, a man was sentenced to life imprisonment by Kithimani Law Courts for defiling two minors.
ODPP said the culprit identified as Isiah Maweu Lucas is said to have committed the heinous crime in Athi River.
Principal Magistrate Khapoya was informed that the middle-aged man enticed the youngsters by offering to give them fish from the River Athi only for the grandmother and neighbour to stumble upon the two victims, unclothed, hidden in a dense patch of bushes.
"Kithimani Law Courts Senior Principal Magistrate Hon Khapoya today sentenced a middle-aged man to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of defiling two minors contrary to section 8(1)(2) of the Sexual Offences Act," the statement by ODPP stated.
"The court heard that Isiah Maweu Lucas lured the minors with the promise of giving them fish from River Athi, the two minors fell for his tricks and were later found naked in a thicket by the grandmother and neighbour of the minors."
ODPP said that the prosecutor presented six witnesses proving beyond reasonable doubt that Isiah Maweu committed the sexual offence contrary to section 8(1)(2) of the Sexual Offences Act.
