By Diana Wenwa
Four men, namely Emmanuel Mutemi, Kennedy Irungu, Peter Mwaura, and Ben Thuo have been sentenced to 30 years in prison by the Kibera law courts for gang defiling a 14-year-old girl.
The principal Magistrate hon. Zainab Abdul found them guilty of the crime contrary to Section 10 of the Sexual Offences Act of 2006.
“The four were found guilty of gang defiling the 14-year-old girl at Laini Saba area of Kibera on the eve of the new year in 2022,” read the statement from the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in part.
The court heard from the victim’s testimony that on the night of December 31, 2021, the complainant and her friend attended a vigil to welcome the New Year. After the service concluded, they headed home at midnight on January 1, 2022. At that moment, they were confronted by a group of men. While her friend managed to escape, the complainant was cornered.
The complainant added that she was taken to a nearby abandoned mud house where the accused took turns to defile her from midnight until daybreak.
She further brought to the knowledge of the court that the accused persons threatened to slit her throat had she tried to scream for help.
“She added that they took her to a nearby abandoned mud house and took turns to defile her from midnight until daybreak. She further told the court that they threatened to slit her throat had she tried to scream for help,” wrote the ODPP.
The complainant was able to identify the perpetrators through the illumination of street lights and recognized them since they were people, she could see in the neighbourhood daily.
In delivering her judgment the Principal Magistrate stated that the Prosecution through Fridah Kainga and Maureen Tanui, proved the case beyond reasonable doubt through testimonies of the 9 prosecution witnesses whose testimonies and exhibits in court placed the four accused at the scene of crime.
The magistrate also noted that the offence of Defilement has become so rampant in Kibera hence, the sentence should be a deterrent to those contemplating engaging in such heinous acts in the society.