A 55-year-old man jailed on Wednesday for 20 years after admitting to repeatedly defiling his daughter and impregnating her over four years, according to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The man also faces a murder allegation involving the victim’s grandfather and was arrested after being on the run. He pleaded guilty despite repeated warnings from the court.
According to an official statement from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the man admitted before Senior Resident Magistrate, E. Karani that he had repeatedly been defiling his daughter to the extent of impregnating her between 2020 and 2024.
The ODPP said the convict entered the guilty plea despite being repeatedly warned of what he was pleading to, with the court emphasizing the seriousness and consequences of the charges.
The prosecution told the court that the man not only committed defilement but was also linked to a separate killing within the same family.
The ODPP statement revealed that the man “similarly committed an offence of murder, where he is alleged to have killed the grandfather of the survivor victim.”
He had reportedly escaped after the incident and remained on the run until authorities apprehended him and brought him before court.
During the plea-taking, the prosecution outlined the detailed facts of the case and presented all relevant exhibits.
The ODPP confirmed that “the facts were read and exhibits produced. He confirmed the facts to be correct.”
When given an opportunity to mitigate, the man offered only a brief statement, asking the court to acknowledge that he did not prolong the case.
According to the ODPP, “in his mitigation, he simply requested the court and the prosecutor to consider that he had not wasted court time.”
Given the gravity of the crimes, including an ongoing murder investigation, the prosecution sought and obtained a mental assessment before sentencing.
The report was necessary because the accused is also the prime suspect in the killing of the child’s grandfather. The ODPP reported that the mental health evaluation confirmed the accused was “fit to plead.”
Principal Prosecution Counsel Florence Njihia led the state’s case, ensuring all legal procedures were followed, including the presentation of evidence and verification of the accused’s plea.
The magistrate sentenced the man to 20 years imprisonment, a punishment aligned with the charges he confessed to.
The ODPP emphasized the seriousness of the matter, noting that the man had admitted to violating his daughter repeatedly over several years and causing her pregnancy, a grave violation that the law treats with utmost severity.
The guilty plea, processed in accordance with legal standards, allowed the court to move directly to sentencing for the defilement charge while the murder case continues to be handled through the criminal justice system.
The case adds to ongoing efforts by the ODPP and law enforcement agencies to bring sexual offenders to justice, particularly in situations where victims are minors and survivors of prolonged abuse.
The ODPP reiterated its commitment to pursuing justice for vulnerable victims and ensuring that offenders are held fully accountable.
Through its statement, the office reaffirmed the importance of swift prosecution and thorough evidentiary processes in such sensitive and complex cases.
Njihia’s handling of the prosecution ensured that the survivor’s experience was legally recognized and that the severity of the offences was reflected in the sentence handed down.
The sentencing marks a significant step in delivering justice for the minor involved, while further legal proceedings concerning the related murder allegation are expected to follow.
