Middle aged man sentenced to life for defiling minor in West Pokot

By Wilberforce Netya

A middle aged man has been sentenced to life imprisonment by Kapenguria magistrates’ court for defiling an 11 year old minor.

Hillary Rotich was accused of committing the heinous act on September 26, 2012 at Karas village in West Pokot County.

He was charged for committing the offense contrary to Section 8 (1) and an alternative charge of doing an indecent act with a child contrary to Section II (I) of the Sexual Offenses Act of 2006. 

The minor, a class four pupil, told the court that she was alone at a forest near her home collecting firewood at a around 1:00 pm on the fateful day when the accused confronted her and forcefully committed the act.

She said that Rotich, whom she identified as a herdsman at her uncle’s place, gagged her mouth before defiling her until he was through with the atrocity adding that she reported the incidence to her sister who took her to Kapenguria District Hospital.

A medic at KDH, Danson Litole who testified in court confirmed that the minor had been defiled and tabled a medical report as an attestation.

In defense, Rotich who pleaded not guilty of the offense told the court that he was framed and that he did not commit the act.

Principal Magistrate RM Wachika found him guilty of the offense after adducing to the evidence presented by the prosecution and the four witnesses who testified in the case including the medical report presented in court.

The court thus sentenced him to life imprisonment for the first count and 10 years for the second with the right to appeal within 14