KWALE, Kenya — A court in Kwale has sentenced a man to 30 years in prison for defiling his 12-year-old stepdaughter, following a successful prosecution by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
Resident Magistrate Ruth Ogolla found Mangisi Chaka Mangisi guilty of defilement contrary to Section 8(1) as read with Section 8(2) of the Sexual Offences Act, 2006, and committing an indecent act on a child contrary to Section 11(1) of the same law.
In her judgment, the magistrate said the prosecution had presented watertight evidence through five witnesses, proving the accused’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The offences occurred between April 2021 and November 2022 in Kayawaa Village, Waa Location, within Matuga Sub-County. During the trial, the court heard that the accused repeatedly abused the minor while she was under his care.
The case came to light on January 4, 2023, when the victim revealed the abuse to her guardian, prompting a police investigation. The minor was examined at Kwale Sub-County Hospital, where medical evidence supported the allegations.
Police later arrested Mangisi on January 22, 2023, after conducting interviews with witnesses in Lungalunga’s Mwamose Village, who corroborated the victim’s testimony.
The prosecution was led by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Collins Orwa and Prosecution Counsel Mahdy Twalib, who presented the evidence that secured the conviction.
In delivering the sentence, the court underscored the gravity of the offence and the need for deterrence in crimes involving child sexual abuse.
The ODPP welcomed the ruling, describing it as a landmark in protecting children’s rights and reinforcing Kenya’s commitment to the Sexual Offences Act and the Children Act, which safeguard minors from sexual exploitation.
“This conviction and sentence send a strong message that sexual offences against children will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” the ODPP said in a statement.
