A 55-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment after pleading guilty to repeatedly defiling his daughter over a four-year period, resulting in her pregnancy.
According to a statement released by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) on Wednesday, November 19, the convict admitted before Senior Resident Magistrate Karani in Kitui that he had been sexually abusing his daughter between 2020 and 2024.
The man confessed to the defilement offense in court, maintaining his guilty plea even after being repeatedly cautioned about the gravity of his admission and its legal consequences.
During the proceedings, the facts of the case were read out and evidence presented to the court. The accused confirmed that the facts were accurate.
In his mitigation, the convict made a simple request to the court and the prosecution, asking them to consider that he had not wasted the court's time by pleading guilty.
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The convicted man is also facing a separate charge of murder, in which he is accused of killing the grandfather of his daughter, the survivor of his sexual abuse.
According to the ODPP statement, the accused had been on the run from authorities before being apprehended and brought before the court.
Given the severity and nature of the crimes, the court requested a mental assessment report to determine the man's mental fitness. The evaluation confirmed that he was mentally capable of entering a plea.
The shocking case comes amid growing calls for stricter penalties for sexual offenses against minors in Kenya.
On Monday, November 17, Kisii Women Representative Dorice Aburi advocated for castration as punishment for defilement offenders, arguing that current sanctions are inadequate in deterring repeat perpetrators.
"My thoughts are, when a man is caught in a defilement act, they should be castrated. I'm pushing for this because some of these men don't just do it once; they do it here and do it there, ruining so many futures for our girls," Aburi stated.
The legislator voiced her frustration with offenders who continue to devastate the lives of young girls nationwide, describing some perpetrators as ‘sick’ and emphasizing the need for more severe consequences.
"Again, some of these men are sick. Just ruining lives," she added.
Aburi drew comparisons between Kenya's legal system and those of other nations where stringent penalties for sexual crimes have resulted in fewer incidents of defilement and assault.
"When you look at other countries, the laws against such acts as assault and defilement are stringent, which is why you will never find such cases as we do here in Kenya. We need to put in place a harsh penalty," the Women Representative emphasized.
Her remarks came as she witnessed families and children affected by sexual violence seeking support and justice in her constituency.
"Like you have seen today, parents came with their children, some with younger ones from defilement," Aburi noted, referring to victims who attended an event in the county.
