A Garissa court has sentenced a man to life imprisonment after convicting him of defiling his six-year-old daughter in Garissa Township.
The conviction was secured by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) following a trial at the Garissa Law Courts, where Resident Magistrate R. Lemayan found the accused guilty of the offence.
The court heard that the incident occurred on January 22, 2026, at around 11pm in the Bulla Ijara area of Garissa Township, Garissa County.
In its judgment, the court relied on the testimony of the child, identified as P.M., alongside evidence from four other prosecution witnesses.
The prosecution also presented medical evidence, including a P3 form and treatment notes, which the court considered in reaching its decision. The child identified the accused as her father, establishing the relationship between the two.
Court condemns betrayal of parental responsibility
In delivering the sentence, the court highlighted the gravity of the offence, particularly the accused’s relationship with the victim.
“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 stated.
The court further noted that the child was below 11 years of age, a factor considered in sentencing under Section 8(2) of the Sexual Offences Act.
The accused was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment.
He has 14 days within which to appeal against the conviction and sentence.
The prosecution was led by Evans Kazungu and Sharon Irungu.
The case highlights the legal responsibility to protect children from sexual abuse, including within the family, and the consequences of violating that duty.
