20 years in jail for man who defiled and impregnated minor

By LEONARD KORIR

Kilgoris, Kenya: A man who pleaded guilty to defiling a 14-year-old girl and cohabiting with her has been handed 20 years in jail.

Hillary Rono was arraigned before Kilgoris Principal Magistrate Bernard Ochieng where he was accused of defiling the girl on diverse dates between February and September 2013 at Changina Village in Trans Mara East District, Narok County.

The complainant, a form one student at Sosio Secondary School testified that she had to drop out of school after she became pregnant and the accused promised to marry her.

In his defense, the accused said indeed he was responsible for the complainant’s pregnancy and sought court’s leniency saying he was ready to marry her and take care of the baby once she gives birth.

“I would like to ask this honorable court to be lenient on me since I am willing to take care of the complainant by ensuring that she goes back to school once she delivers besides marrying her,” Rono told the court.

In his ruling, Ochieng said having considered all the evidence produced, it had been established that indeed the accused person had been cohabiting with the minor which had resulted into her pregnancy.