A 19-year- old juvenile who pleaded guilty to defiling a minor whom he lured to his house promising her avocados has been jailed for 60 years by a Kericho court.
Kericho Senior Principal Magistrate Johnson Monguti jailed Emmanuel Kemboi for defiling the five-year-old girl in his house on 8th, March 2024 at Kenyelet village in Kipkelion West sub-county within Kericho County.
Kemboi was also charged with an alternative charge of committing an indecent act with the girl. The prosecution brought eight witnesses, all who gave collaborating evidence against the accused.
The court heard that on March 8, 2024 at around 4pm, the minor, a PP1 pupil was playing outside her grandmother’s house together with her sister and her friend when the accused called out her name and asked her to accompany him to his house saying he will give her avocados.
The accused is the complainant’s neighbor and live close to the minor’s grandmother’s home.
It was then that the minor left her sister playing with her friend and accompanied the accused to his house who on reaching his door dragged her inside by force and lifted her to his bed after she resisted.
The accused reportedly removed her black trouser and green skirt before defiling her.
During the heinous ordeal, the minor told the accused that she would report him to her father and he retorted back that she could do so. She tried screaming but the accused held her by the neck attempting to strangle her but lost consciousness.
A witness told the court that she saw from a distance the accused walking holding the complainant by her hand heading to his house and informed a neighbor who rushed to the accused home and caught him red-handed in the sexual act with the five-year-old girl.
The accused on realizing that he had been caught picked a stone in his house which he hurled at the neighbor but missed hitting him. Kemboi managed to flee out of his home while the neighbor shouted for help.
The witness further narrated to the court that on entering the house he found the minor unconscious and noticed that she had wet and soiled herself during the incident. She immediately administered first aid on seeing foam coming out of her mouth. She also noticed some scratches on the minor’s neck and blood was oozing from around the injuries.
She was treated and the matter reported to Barsiele police post following which the convict was arrested.
A medical officer who examined the minor confirmed on the P3 form which was tabled before the court that she was indeed defiled.
“The minor herein almost lost her life due to the beastly act. In the circumstances the accused is sentenced to serve 60 years in prison,” Monguti ruled even as he reminded the convict of the right to appeal the sentence within 14 days if dissatisfied.
By Sarah Njagi
