By Andrew Kariuki

A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment after a Kilifi court found him guilty of defiling his 10 year old niece.

Samuel Mwadori Wanje, also known as Branson, was convicted by Principal Magistrate Ivy Wasike for the offence committed on December 4, 2024, in Mchoenzi village, Vitengeni location, Ganze Sub-County.

The case, prosecuted by the Director of Public Prosecutions through Principal Prosecution Counsel Nancy Njeru, was supported by five witnesses whose testimonies the court relied on to reach its verdict.

According to the prosecution, the accused attacked the minor while she was on her way to a farm to fetch vegetables. The child later reported the incident to her family, leading to medical examination and a police report.

Medical findings presented in court confirmed injuries consistent with assault, while investigators who visited the scene observed signs indicating a struggle, supporting the victim’s account.

In his defence, the accused denied the allegations and claimed he had been framed following a disagreement with the child’s mother. However, the court rejected this argument, noting that the minor had positively identified him and that he failed to provide a credible explanation of his whereabouts.

A pre-sentence report further indicated that the convict posed a risk to the community, recommending a deterrent sentence.

In delivering the judgment, the court described the offence as grave, particularly given the victim’s age and her relationship to the accused.

The court sentenced him to life imprisonment in accordance with the Sexual Offences Act and declared him a danger to society.

Additionally, the court ordered that a social inquiry be conducted on the child and directed that both the minor and her mother receive psychosocial support for at least 12 months.