Written by Kelly Were
Kisumu, Kenya – In a case that has shocked the Nyalenda B community, Donard Shimiyu Ondieka has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the defilement of a two-year-old child, following a successful prosecution by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
The offence occurred in February 2024, when the convict, a neighbor to the victim, committed the act in Nyalenda B Sub-location, Kisumu Central. He was convicted under Section 8(1) as read with Section 8(2) of the Sexual Offences Act No. 3 of 2006.
Delivering the landmark ruling, Kisumu Principal Magistrate Fatuma Rashid emphasized the heinous nature of the crime, especially given the tender age of the victim and the breach of trust involved.
“The court is satisfied that the Prosecution has established all the three essential elements required for a conviction in defilement cases: proof of penetration, confirmation of the victim’s age, and positive identification of the accused,” she stated.
The case was led by prosecutor Linda Nzioka, who presented compelling evidence including testimonies from four witnesses, among them a medical officer whose report confirmed clinical signs of sexual assault on the minor.
Magistrate Rashid further noted that the child’s age and vulnerability, coupled with the betrayal of a neighborly relationship, warranted the maximum sentence allowed by law.
“This ruling sends a strong message: crimes against children will be met with the full weight of justice,” she concluded.
The sentencing has brought a measure of closure to the devastated family, while highlighting the continued need for vigilance and community protection of vulnerable children.
