KWALE, Kenya- A man convicted of defiling a seven-year-old child in Kwale County has been sentenced to life imprisonment, following a case that was concluded just over a year after the offence was reported.
Msambweni Magistrate Leah Wandia Kabaria handed down the sentence on Friday, October 23, after finding that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The case involved Athmani Juma, according to International Justice Mission (IJM) Kenya, which represented the child and family.
The court noted that the abuse had a serious impact on the child, including trauma that led to the child leaving school and receiving counselling, IJM said.
The case arose from an incident in June 2025. Juma was convicted earlier this month, with the court postponing sentencing to October 23.
IJM said the case moved from reporting to sentencing in just over a year, describing the timeline as significant for a child sexual abuse case. The organisation credited coordination among community members, healthcare workers, police and other justice actors for helping move the case through the system.
Community members and paralegals from Tunawajali Wajane helped protect the child, preserve evidence and report the case to police, according to IJM. Healthcare workers documented the abuse and provided medical care.
IJM acted as victim counsel during the case and arranged counselling and psychosocial support for the child and family. The organisation said it would continue to provide support as the child’s recovery continues.
Aggrey Juma, IJM Kenya’s manager for the Violence Against Women and Children programme, said the sentence demonstrated the role of cooperation between communities and justice institutions in protecting children and holding offenders accountable.
IJM also commended the Msambweni Court Users Committee, saying its coordination and case management procedures were helping reduce delays and improve the handling of cases.
The organisation said the sentencing was an important milestone for the child but that support for the survivor and family would continue beyond the court process.
