Catholic priest now faces criminal case for sodomy

By PAMELA  CHEPKEMEI

A man who claims to have been sodomised by a Catholic priest two years ago now wants a court to allow him to prosecute a private criminal case against the cleric.

The complainant, a former worker of Father Renato Kizito, is accusing the Catholic priest of molesting him sexually twice.

He has filed an application asking a Nairobi court to allow him pursue the case through private prosecution.

The man worked for the priest as a gardener from 2007 and was later promoted to be his personal secretary.

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He says that the state has refused to take action against the priest and the magistrate’s court should therefore allow him to prosecute the case in his private capacity.

But when the case came up before principal magistrate Joseph Karanja yesterday, the hearing could not proceed because Kizito’s lawyer was engaged in the High Court.

Father Kizito has filed an objection to the case.

The magistrate directed the parties to file their written submissions and appear before him on August 27 when they will be notified on the ruling date on whether Father Kizito’s objection will be allowed or not.

The complainant filed the case in October 2011 seeking the court’s permission to prosecute Father Kizito for sodomising him.

He says he decided to file the case because the offences were committed against him in 2011 and the police have not taken any credible steps to investigate the matter.