Murang'a: A 25-year-old man was sentenced to 25 years by a Murang'a court after he was found guilty of defiling a 13-year-old girl. Asaph Kamau, who was employed at the victim's homestead as a farmhand, was accused of repeatedly defiling the Grade 9 school-going girl on diverse dates between July 7 and July 20, 2024, in the Githambo area of Kahuro Sub County.
According to Kenya News Agency, the victim's aunt reported that the girl revealed what Kamau did to her on the night of July 20, 2024, after the girl failed to respond to her call when she wanted the girl to bring her a water jug. After urging the girl to speak up, she disclosed that Kamau forced himself on her in her brother's room. The aunt then reported the matter to the local police station following these revelations.
A medical report and post-rape care form filled out at Muriranjas Level-4 hospital, which were presented before the court, confirmed that the victim had suffered a tear on her hymen and tested positive for a urinary tract infection. In his defense, Kamau denied committing the offense, claiming that this was a frame-up due to a strained relationship with his employer, the girl's mother. He argued that the girl was coached to implicate him and mislead the court.
Resident Magistrate Soy Mwangi dismissed Kamau's defense, stating that the prosecution's evidence was proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The Magistrate noted that the medical report corroborated the testimonies of the witnesses. A trial report prepared by probation officer Teddy Mbithi recommended that Kamau was unsuitable for a non-custodial sentence, emphasizing the need for justice for the victim.
In his mitigation, Kamau pleaded for leniency, requesting a non-custodial sentence by claiming he had a wife and two children who depended on him, a claim which the court later found to be false. The Magistrate ruled that, due to the nature of the offenses, the victim's vulnerability, and the psychological trauma inflicted on her, Kamau was unsuitable for a non-custodial sentence and would serve a custodial sentence to address the severity of the matter.
The court decided that the number of days Kamau had been in remand would be deducted from the total sentence. Additionally, Kamau was granted 14 days to appeal the judgment if dissatisfied.