By Ongaga Ongaga
A man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for defiling his 16-year-old orphaned niece, whom he was responsible for caring for, following a trial at the Kericho Law Courts.
The court heard that the offences occurred on August 16 and 23, 2025, in Kimwokit Village, Kalyongwet Sub-location, Kaborok Location, Belgut Sub-County, Kericho County.
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According to evidence presented during the trial, the first incident occurred when the girl was on her way to a posho mill.
The accused allegedly called her into his house, dragged her into his bedroom and sexually assaulted her before threatening to kill her if she disclosed what had happened.
The girl reportedly told her grandmother, who is the accused’s mother, about the incident but was allegedly warned against revealing it to others.
A week later, the accused allegedly approached the girl in her grandmother’s kitchen and began touching her indecently while attempting to remove her clothes.
The girl screamed for help, attracting another uncle who intervened and rescued her.
Afraid to raise the matter with her grandmother again, the girl approached a village elder the following morning and recounted the incidents.
The elder accompanied her to Sosiot Police Station, where the matter was reported.
The accused was arrested on November 10, 2025, after members of the public apprehended him in Bomet County, where he had reportedly been hiding.
He was subsequently taken to Sosiot Police Station.
During the trial, Principal Prosecution Counsel Mercy Chelangat presented the complainant and five other witnesses to support the prosecution’s case before Resident Magistrate Odunga.
In its determination, the court found that the accused had abused the trust placed in him as a caregiver and taken advantage of the vulnerability of his orphaned niece.
