File image of a judge's gavel. PHOTO|COURTESY
A Machakos-based suspect has been handed a life imprisonment sentence after being found guilty of defiling a two-year-old child in Kiemboni village, Yatta sub-county.
The court ruled that the prosecution, led by Principal Prosecution Counsel Lydia Wang’ombe, proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused committed the sexual offence on January 6, 2026.
Medical evidence and the child's blood-stained trousers presented during the trial confirmed that the minor sustained genital injuries.
The prosecution also demonstrated that the accused was known to the child and her family, as the minor positively identified him through an intermediary.
In his defence, the accused denied the charges, alleging that he was falsely implicated over a Ksh.5,000 dispute.
After reviewing the evidence, Justice Githaiga of the Kithimani Magistrate’s Court ruled that the seriousness of the offence warranted a custodial sentence to protect children and deter would-be offenders.
The court, however, noted that the sentence takes effect from January 12, 2026, when he was first arraigned and placed in custody.
In line with the Sexual Offences Act, the Judge ordered the accused's name to be formally registered under the Register of Convicted and Dangerous Sexual Offenders.
