Man sentenced to 20 years for defiling 12-year-old boy

A Kilifi court has sentenced 55-year-old Mwakonde Mwadzala to 20 years in prison for repeatedly sexually abusing a 12-year-old boy, according to prosecutors. The court found the prosecution's case beyond reasonable doubt, convicting Mwadzala under Section 215 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Evidence revealed that Mwadzala used money to lure the child before abusing him, a crime committed several times.

The abuse was discovered when the victim's mother noticed changes in his behavior and found evidence of sexual assault at their home. The prosecution presented four reliable witnesses whose testimony was corroborated by other evidence. Mwadzala had no prior criminal record, making him a first-time offender. Despite his denial, the court found the offence particularly serious due to the manipulation, money, and trust involved in the abuse.

The court noted that the Sexual Offences Act prescribes severe punishment for such acts and found no grounds to reduce the sentence. Mwadzala will serve 19 years and three months in prison, with the time already served credited towards his sentence, as stated by Magistrate Lewis Gatheru.