NAIROBI, Kenya – A Malindi man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for defiling a seven-year-old boy, following a prosecution in which the court heard how the child was threatened into silence and the accused later went missing for eight months after jumping bail.
Justin Karisa Thoya was sentenced by Malindi Resident Magistrate Eva Mirriam Adhiambo after being found guilty of defiling the child in the Jacaranda area of Malindi Sub-county, Kilifi County, on June 14, 2025.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) said the prosecution, led by counsel Ahmed Omar, presented four witnesses whose evidence established the offence beyond reasonable doubt.
How the Case Came to Light
The court heard that the boy had gone out to graze livestock when Thoya allegedly asked him to help search for another cow in nearby bushes.
According to the child’s testimony, he was defiled during the incident and warned against disclosing what had happened, with threats to his life.
The boy eventually told his mother, who took him to hospital for examination and treatment.
His mother testified that the child had reported the abuse at grazing grounds in the bushes. A medical officer told the court that the boy was examined after being brought to hospital with complaints of defilement.
The examination revealed swelling and pain around the anus, with the doctor concluding that anal penetration had occurred.
The investigating officer also presented the child’s birth certificate to establish his age.
Suspect Tracked to Lamu After Eight Months
Thoya had reportedly jumped bail and remained at large for eight months before officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in Malindi and Kizingo police stations traced him to Hindi in Lamu County.
He was arrested and returned to court, where his bond was cancelled before the trial proceeded to its conclusion.
In her judgment, Magistrate Adhiambo found that the prosecution had established the child’s age, the identity of the perpetrator and penetration beyond reasonable doubt.
“I am satisfied that the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused person defiled the complainant,” the magistrate ruled.
The court granted Thoya 14 days to appeal against both his conviction and sentence.
