A court in Bomet has sentenced three men to 35 years in prison each after finding them guilty of gang-raping a woman in Chepalungu Sub-County, Bomet County.
The convicts — Carlos Sigei, his brother Weldon Sigei, and Anderson Sigei — were arrested in December 2023 after a video of the assault circulated widely online. The offence occurred on December 23, 2023 at Chebanyiny Village.
Appearing before Chief Magistrate Esther Booke, the three were charged with gang rape contrary to Section 10 of the Sexual Offences Act No. 3 of 2006.
According to the charge sheet, the offenders, “jointly with others not before court, willfully and unlawfully raped the complainant without her consent.”
In her judgment, Magistrate Booke said she had considered the mitigation and the victim impact assessment report, but found the offences grave and traumatizing, noting that the circulated video had stigmatized the victim and worsened her suffering.
She dismissed the offenders’ claims that the act had been staged by the woman and her boyfriend, saying the video clearly showed the victim was in pain and helpless.
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She further stated that the boyfriend was innocent, and the attempt to shift blame did not absolve the accused.
Booke emphasized that the sentence was necessary not only as punishment, but also to allow the offenders to undergo rehabilitation so they can reintegrate responsibly into society upon release.
The sentence will be counted from April 2024, and the convicts were granted 14 days to appeal.
Principal Prosecution Counsel Peter Wainaina welcomed the ruling, saying it sends a strong warning to perpetrators of sexual violence.
Gender-based violence activist Stella Seurey from Bomet also lauded the judgment, noting that GBV cases have been on the rise in the region, and stronger sentencing is necessary to deter offenders.
By Philip Koech
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