Kilifi rape fugitive finally nabbed

John Kazungu during a past court proceeding in 2018. [File, Standard]

Former County Protocol Officer John Kazungu who is facing five counts of child rape, kidnapping and conspiracy to defeat justice has been arrested after failing to attend court for close to 15 months.

He is charged with defiling a 14-years-old Class Six pupil and attempting to bribe her mother with Sh100,000 to defeat justice.

He committed the alleged offences between October 24, 2017, and January 22, 2018, and was out on a Sh500,000 bond and two similar sureties before vanishing.

Kazungu, who was arrested at his rural home last Thursday is now detained at Kilifi GK Prison after he pleaded not guilty before Senior Principal Magistrate James Kituku the next day to jumping bail and failing to attend court.

His trial on the new charge will begin on September 4.