Uasin Gishu herder, 20, jailed two years for bestiality

The herder committed the offence on September 11, 2023, at Seretio village in Moiben, Uasin Gishu County. [iStockphoto]

A court in Eldoret has sentenced a 20-year-old man to two years in jail for engaging in an unnatural act with an animal.

When appearing before Principal Magistrate Caroline Wattimah, Billy Kipchumba, a herder pleaded guilty to the bestiality charges leading to his sentencing.

The court was told that Kipchumba engaged in an unnatural sexual act with an animal contrary to section 162(b) of the penal code.

In his mitigation, Kipchumba claimed that he was 'driven by the devil' to commit the unnatural sexual act with a cow and asked for forgiveness.

Koech said that he was remorseful for the offence he committed and pledged not to engage in such bizarre act ever again.

"It is true that I did what I am accused of but it was as a result of a devil of strong sexual lust. I beg this court to forgive me," pleaded Koech.

Kipchumba had earlier confessed to the authorities that he had been sexually attracted to the cow after it 'winked' at him while 'wagging its tail'.

According to the charge sheet, Koech committed the offence on September 11, 2023, at Seretio village in Moiben sub-county within Uasin Gishu County.

The facts read out by the prosecution stated that the accused was caught in the act by the owner at the cow shed where it had been tied.

"I heard a commotion at the cowshed and when I went outside, I stumbled on the accused person in the act with my cow," said the owner of the cow.

The owner further told the court that he found a used condom in the cowshed and when Koech was interrogated after he was found with cow dung on his trousers around the front zip area, he confessed.

According to Magistrate Wattimah, what the accused did to the cow was unfortunate and amounted to cruelty to animals.

"I have heard your mitigation, and, having considered the evidence produced in court by the prosecution, it has been indicated that the accused person engaged in sexual acts with a cow. Animals should be treated with respect and dignity just as human beings. I therefore proceed to sentence the accused person to serve a jail term of two years in prison, "ruled the Magistrate.

Koech has 14 days to appeal.