20 years in jail for man who defiled minor

A man suspected to have defiled a 10-year-old girl in Elgeyo Marakwet has been sentenced to 20 years in jail.

Iten Magistrates court found Vincent Tarus guilty of defiling the minor in their house in Chepyam village, Keiyo South sub-county in March.

The court was told that the accused sneaked into the minor’s house at night on March 26, before defiling her in her mother’s bed.

Iten Senior Magistrate Charles Kutwa heard that the accused gained entry into the house where the minor and her siblings were alone at about 9pm.

Their mother had attended a burial ceremony.

Tarus denied the defilement charge, telling the court that he was looking for vegetables in the minor’s house.

In his ruling, Kutwa said there was compelling evidence that the accused defiled the minor.

“The offence is serious and the accused is sentenced to 20 years in prison,” he ruled.

The accused has 14 days to appeal the ruling.