NAIROBI, Kenya – A Garissa court has sentenced a man to life imprisonment after convicting him of defiling his six-year-old daughter, in a case in which the prosecution presented testimony from the child and four other witnesses.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) said the sentence was handed down by Garissa Law Courts Resident Magistrate R. Lemayan following the man’s conviction for defiling the minor, identified in court as P.M.
According to the prosecution’s account, the offence occurred on January 22, 2026, at around 11pm in the Bulla Ijara area of Garissa Township, Garissa County.
The court relied on the child’s testimony, which placed the accused at the scene, alongside evidence from four other prosecution witnesses. The child also identified the accused as her father.
Medical evidence presented by a doctor, together with a P3 form and treatment notes, further supported the prosecution’s case, the ODPP said.
Court Cites Father-Daughter Relationship in Sentencing
In explaining the sentence, the court highlighted the relationship between the accused and the child, noting that a parent was expected to protect rather than harm their child.
“The court has considered the offence and the relationship between the accused and the complainant. This is a father and daughter relationship, and as such, the accused was required to protect her, but instead he is the one who preyed on her,” the court said, according to the ODPP statement.
The court also considered the child’s age in determining the sentence.
What the Law Says
Section 8(2) of Kenya’s Sexual Offences Act provides for life imprisonment upon conviction for defilement involving a child aged 11 years or younger. The provision is the basis cited for the sentence in this case.
The accused has 14 days within which to appeal the conviction or sentence, according to the ODPP.
The prosecution was led by P.C. Sharon Irungu.
