Nyeri: Man sentenced to 20yrs in jail for defiling minor

A Nyeri Court has handed down a 20-year prison sentence to a 26-year-old man for the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl in Mukurwe-ini, Nyeri County. The verdict came after the accused was found guilty on November 5th, 2026, following a trial that began on November 12th, 2026, following evidence presented by prosecutors. The accused, who worked as a farmhand for the victim's uncle and resided within the family household, faced charges under Section 8(1) and (3) of the Sexual Offences Act No. 3 of 2006.

The incident came to light on August 14th, 2025, when the victim's family expressed concerns over her unexplained absences, which were later traced to the accused's residence. Upon discovering the girl at his home, the accused immediately informed his family, who then alerted the authorities. The victim was subsequently taken to Mukurwe-ini Hospital for medical examination, where doctors confirmed evidence of sexual intercourse, including genital bruising and spermatozoa in laboratory tests.

Despite the accused's denial of the allegations, the court found the prosecution's case compelling, with the victim's birth certificate verifying her age and the victim's testimony corroborated by medical evidence. The court also rejected any attempts to resolve the matter through family reconciliation, stressing that the age and consent of a child are not valid defenses for such crimes, which are considered public offenses and not subject to private settlements.

The conviction was rendered under Section 215 of the Criminal Procedure Code, with Principal Prosecution Counsel Elizabeth Waruguru and Prosecution Counsel Sarah Nanyama Kitui leading the case.