The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has charged a Lamu-based Madrasa teacher with defiling a four-year-old girl.
According to a statement released by the ODPP on Friday, September 19, the accused, 22-year-old Sharif Hussein, popularly known as Ustadhi, was arraigned before the Lamu Law Courts, where he faced charges of defilement contrary to Section 8(1), as read with Section 8(4) of the Sexual Offences Act No. 3 of 2006.
Hussein faces an alternative count of committing an indecent act with a child. The court heard that the offence was committed in September 2025 at the Utukuni area, Mkomani Location, Lamu Island, Central Sub-County.
The accused is alleged to have intentionally and unlawfully penetrated the minor in acts which the DPP described as heinous and unacceptable in any civilized society.
Appearing before Principal Magistrate Hon. Peter Wasike, Hussein pleaded not guilty to both charges and, through his lawyer, sought release on reasonable bond terms.
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However, Prosecution Counsel Idris Kipruto Tumno, appearing for the DPP, strongly opposed the bail application. He argued that releasing the accused would endanger the integrity of ongoing investigations and risk interference with key witnesses, including the minor complainant.
Mr. Tumno further pointed out that the case generated widespread public outrage, and the suspect's safety could be compromised if released prematurely.
“The court concurred with the prosecution’s concerns, directing the Probation and Aftercare Services to file a pre-bail report before deciding on bond.
"In the meantime, the accused will remain in custody at Hindi G.K Prison until the matter is mentioned again on 30th September 2025,” the statement reads.
In a different but similar case, ODPP on Thursday demonstrated firm commitment to safeguarding vulnerable members of society after successfully securing a life sentence against a man convicted of incest and child abuse.
At the Kibera Law Courts, the 36-year-old was handed life imprisonment for defiling his 13-year-old daughter. The convict will serve an extra five years after being found guilty of subjecting the minor to cruelty by repeatedly assaulting her with a knife and using pegs to pinch her ears.
Principal Magistrate Hon. Abdul, in delivering judgment, commended the thoroughness of the prosecution and noted that the case had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The court heard how the minor, after being rescued and placed in a children's home, confided to a social worker that her father had been defiling her. Medical evidence and witness testimony corroborated her account, leading to the conviction.
In her ruling, the Magistrate underscored the heinous nature of the offence, describing the accused's actions as demonstrating "a complete lack of humanity." She stressed that defiling one's own daughter was the ultimate betrayal of parental duty, warranting the maximum penalty under the law.
