A 60-year-old woman on Thursday stunned a Kabarnet Court when she recounted how a middle aged man tightly gripped her neck until she urinated before raping her.
Julia Kipsetim told the court how on the material day she was going home through a forest when she met the accused, Hosea Kiptoon, who followed her from behind before grabbing her by the neck and squeezed tightly until she passed out.
“On my way back home from the forest, I saw Kiptoon trailing me and he held me tightly from behind on the neck until I urinated,” the statement read.
According to the complainant’s statement adduced by the prosecution in the absence of the victim, the elderly woman passed out and when she regained consciousness, she noticed the accused lying on top of her.
The accused who had pleaded not guilty to the charge before Senior Principal Magistrate (SPM), Paul Biwot, is said to have committed the offence on March 18, 2019 at around 2pm in Baringo Central Sub County.
Kipsetim in her statement further told the hushed court during the hearing of the case that she had gone to a nearby forest to herd her sheep when the heinous act happened.
The complainant, the court heard, was unable to scream since her throat had been choked and when she got a chance to go home, she informed her husband about the incident.
Granny Kipsetim’s husband sought help from his friend, Solomon Chepchieng, a Kenya Navy officer, based in Mombasa who was on leave at the time, about the matter.
Chepchieng who testified in court yesterday said he found the victim crying while mentioning the name of Kiptoon who she said had raped her near their home in Sumeion village.
He said he summoned a bodaboda operator who took the complainant to Baringo County referral hospital for medical attention.
“The accused was arrested at Pemwai centre by the public on March 19, 2019 and brought to the police station. I examined the accused on the matter but he pleaded not guilty,” said police officer, Jane Macharia.
In defence, the accused claimed that he was a victim of mistaken identity saying those who arrested him confused him for a person with whom they look alike.
The SPM adjourned the case until June 28 when the hearing will continue.
By Pauline Nasimiyu/Joshua Kibet
