A pastor who serves at a local church in Baringo North has been arraigned at a Kabarnet court, charged with defiling and impregnating a 15-year-old student.
The allegation stated that Evans Bundotich, on December 24, last year, at about 7 pm at Tanyilel village within Baringo County, intentionally defiled the Form Two girl.
He also faced an alternative charge of committing an indecent act with a child contrary to section 11 (1) of the Sexual Offences Act NO.3 of 2006.
The pastor in his mid-forties was charged with a second count of supplying drugs to the victim in an attempt to procure abortion contrary to section 160 of the penal code.
The charge sheet read that on January 1, 2024, at about 5 pm at Tanyilel village in Baringo North sub-county within Baringo county, knowingly and unlawfully supplied drugs to the minor to procure an abortion.
Bundotich who appeared before Principle Magistrate Caroline Ateya was charged with defilement charges contrary to section 8 (1) as read with section 8 (3) of the sexual offences Act NO.3 of 2006.
When the three charges were read to him in a packed courtroom, the accused pleaded not guilty to all the counts claiming they were all not true.
The court was told that the pastor who was a regular guest at the girl’s family had visited to give some food donations, before committing the heinous act that evening after pretending to visit another family.
The girl, the court heard, after being discovered to be pregnant and questioned, confirmed that indeed the pastor was responsible.
Prosecution counsel Vivian Ratemo prayed the court not to release the accused on bond as the life of the victim was at stake, since her health condition had deteriorated after taking the said abortion drugs.
“Your honour, we pray that the accused bond terms be withheld as the life of the victim is at stake, we also pray that the court orders for a pre-bail report,” stated Ratemo.
The Magistrate in her ruling granted the prosecution their prayers and withheld bond terms for the accused until when a pre-bail report is presented to the court.
Ateya then set the case for mention on February 12 for pre-bail report presentation stating that a hearing date will be given on that day.
By Moses Lando and Joshua Kibet
