- Kilifi pastor sentenced to 30 years for defiling 15-year-old cousin twice between June 2023 and February 2024, leading to pregnancy.
- Court heard the victim was lured for prayers and fasting, threatened, and DNA showed a 99.9 per cent probability the pastor was the father.
- Chief Magistrate James Mwaniki rejected the defence of coercion and ignorance of age, and convicted under the Sexual Offences Act.
A pastor in Kilifi has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after being found guilty of defiling his 15-year-old cousin twice, resulting in her pregnancy.
Chief Magistrate James Mwaniki convicted the pastor after finding that the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.
The offences occurred on different dates between June 2023 and February 2024, when the girl was aged 15.
The prosecution, led by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Winnie Atieno Otieno, told the court that the minor was a member of the church where the accused served as a pastor.
The girl testified that the pastor invited her to his home to participate in fasting and prayers for spiritual cleansing. She accepted the invitation, believing she was attending a religious activity.
According to her testimony, she was later defiled at the pastor’s home after being persuaded to spend the night there. The court heard that she was threatened with death if she disclosed what had happened.
The minor remained silent about the incident and returned home the following morning.
The court heard that the pastor later approached her again, telling her that prayers and fasting would help prevent her from marrying a non-Christian after completing school.
She returned to his home for another session of prayers and fasting. After an evening gathering, the other girl who had accompanied her was sent home, leaving the complainant behind.
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The pastor later defiled her for a second time while she was asleep with his children, the court heard.
Months later, the girl discovered she was pregnant. Her mother reported the matter to police, leading to medical examinations that confirmed the pregnancy.
A government analyst later presented DNA evidence linking the pastor to the child, with the results indicating a 99.9 per cent probability that he was the biological father of the newborn.
In his defence, the accused initially denied the allegations before admitting that he had sexual intercourse with the minor. He, however, claimed that he had been coerced and did not know her age.
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The court rejected the explanation, describing the defence as baseless and an afterthought.
“I find merit in the prosecution’s case on the principal charge of defilement. The accused person is hereby sentenced to serve 30 years’ imprisonment,” Magistrate Mwaniki ruled.
The pastor was convicted of defilement contrary to Section 8(1) as read with Section 8(3) of the Sexual Offences Act, 2006.
The court directed him to exercise his right of appeal against both the conviction and sentence within 14 days.
By Jeff Kirui
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