The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has successfully secured a 20-year prison sentence for a man convicted of defiling a minor in Kericho County.
In a statement on Monday, March 9, the ODPP said the conviction followed a thorough prosecution that proved the accused, Victor Kiplangat Cheruiyot, committed the offence against a 13-year-old girl.
The court established that the crime occurred over several days in July 2021 at Chebiribei village in Belgut Sub-county. Senior Principal Magistrate Honourable Nyakundi delivered the sentence following prosecution led by Anthony Karanja.
Evidence presented showed that the accused lured the minor to his home using false promises, including the gift of a dress. The victim later became pregnant but initially concealed the identity of the perpetrator. She eventually gave birth to a daughter and resumed her studies.
Years later, when the victim was 16, the accused allegedly subjected her to continued harassment and physical assaults. He also attacked her brother when he tried to intervene.
The victim finally disclosed the truth to her parents, prompting a police investigation. DNA analysis confirmed the accused as the biological father of the child.
While delivering the sentence, the court emphasized the seriousness of the offence and its long-term psychological and physical impact on the minor. “Hon. Nyakundi highlighted the grave trauma inflicted upon the child,” the ODPP said.
This follows a similar case in Kajiado County, where a middle-aged man received a life sentence for defiling a minor. The ODPP noted that evidence in both cases met the required legal threshold and reflected a strong commitment to child protection.
The Kajiado case prosecution, led by Linda Nzioka, presented five credible witnesses whose testimony proved the offence beyond doubt. The convictions underscore the DPP’s pledge to hold sexual violence perpetrators fully accountable and safeguard children across the country.
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