A man who sexually abused his 16-year-old orphaned niece has been sentenced to 30 years in prison following a trial at the Kericho Law Courts.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) said the man was convicted after prosecutors presented evidence showing that he had abused the trust placed in him as the girl’s caregiver.
The case was prosecuted by Principal Prosecution Counsel Mercy Chelangat before Resident Magistrate Hon. Odunga.
Court proceedings established that the offences occurred on August 16 and August 23, 2025, in Kimwokit Village, Kalyongwet Sub-location, Kaborok Location, Belgut Sub-County, Kericho County.
On the first date, the girl was reportedly on her way to a posho mill when her uncle called her into his house.
The court heard that he took her into his bedroom and sexually assaulted her before threatening to kill her if she disclosed what had happened.
The girl later told her grandmother, who is the accused man’s mother. However, she was allegedly warned against revealing the incident.
A week later, on August 23, the man allegedly approached the girl in her grandmother’s kitchen and began touching her inappropriately while attempting to remove her clothes. The girl screamed, attracting another uncle who intervened and rescued her.
Fearing that her grandmother would not help her, the girl approached a village elder the following morning and reported the incidents. The elder accompanied her to Sosiot Police Station, where the matter was reported.
The accused was subsequently arrested by members of the public in Bomet County on November 10, 2025, after reportedly going into hiding. He was then taken to Sosiot Police Station.
During the trial, the prosecution called the complainant and five other witnesses to support the charges.
In its determination, the court found that the man had taken advantage of his position as a caregiver and the vulnerability of his orphaned niece. Instead of offering her protection and guidance, the court noted, he had violated the trust placed in him.
The 30-year sentence marks the conclusion of the trial, in which the prosecution sought to hold the accused accountable for the offences.
