A middle aged man was sentenced to life imprisonment by a Narok Court after he was found guilty of defiling a 10-year-old girl.
Samuel Kipesa Nyangaresi had appeared before Narok Senior Resident Magistrate Hosea Ng’ang’a charged with defiling the young girl on January 31, 2018 at Mpopong area in Narok township.
He faced an alternative charge of indecently assaulting the minor by touching her private parts but this charge expired after he was convicted of the main charge of defilement, in accordance with the law.
Nyangaresi had denied the charges claiming that he had been framed by the girl`s family who were his close neighbours who had earlier accused him of having an affair with the minor’s mother.
“The girl’s father had once accused me of having an affair with his wife which was not true, now he is accusing me of having affairs with his daughter so that I can be sentenced to life imprisonment,” said the accused in his defence.
However, during the fateful day, the court was told by five witnesses that the minor had gone to the accused’s home to borrow a charcoal jiko for cooking chapati when he locked her in the house and defiled her.
When the girl took time to return, her father went knocking to Nyangaresi house where she found the minor dressing up. She then confessed to the father what had transpired.
The girl’s parents later called the police who arrested the culprit and took the minor to Narok Referral Hospital where she was confirmed to have been defiled.
“Evidence given in court by the young girl was clear that you are a person well known to her and that you forcefully removed her clothes and defiled her,” said the Magistrate when reading the judgment.
The magistrate said that the prosecution had proved their case beyond reasonable doubt. He said the facts of the case were well-corroborated and did not leave any loose ends which is a prove that the minor was defiled by the accused.
The magistrate said that it was disturbing that the accused person had decided to ruin the life of a girl whom he knew very well.
The magistrate said he had considered the offender is a first offender and remorseful, nevertheless, he said the offence is of grievous harm to the minor as she will live with trauma hence sentencing him to life imprisonment.
The magistrate reminded the accused of his right of appeal in 14 days.
Meanwhile in the same court, three men have pleaded not guilty of defilement charges in three separate incidents.
Paul Kipngeno Chepkwony is accused of defiling a 14 year old girl on diverse dates between December 5 and 13, 2018 at Chemorut village in Narok West Sub County.
Samuel Ntashar was accused of defiling a girl aged 15 years at Sakutiek area in Narok North Sub County on January 1, 2019.
The third accused Festus Sigei was accused of defiling a 14 year old girl at Sunrise hotel in Mulot Township on January 1, 2019.
The three were released on a bond of Sh. 300, 000 and hearing dates set on March 13,2019.
By Ann Salaton
