A 40-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after being convicted of raping an 86-year-old woman in Mukurwe-ini Sub-County, Nyeri County.
Jairus Githendu Irenyo was found guilty of rape contrary to Section 3(1)(a) and (b), as read with Section 3(3) of the Sexual Offences Act, following a successful prosecution before the Mukurwe-ini Magistrate’s Court.
The incident occurred on September 1, 2025, at Gitura Village, Kiharo Location, where the accused reportedly gained entry into the elderly woman's house after damaging a section of the wall next to her door.
According to the prosecution, he restrained the survivor before sexually assaulting her using force and threats of violence.
After the incident, the woman sought help from the area chief, saying she feared for her life. She also disclosed that the accused had allegedly assaulted her on previous occasions but she had remained silent due to shame.
The chief subsequently referred her to the police, prompting investigations and the prosecution of the case.
The prosecution presented six witnesses, including the area chief, a neighbour who testified that he heard the woman's distress calls on the night of the incident, a clinical officer and the investigating officer.
Medical examination records, laboratory request forms and photographs documenting damage to the survivor's house were also presented as evidence.
In its judgment, the court found that the prosecution had proved the essential elements of rape beyond reasonable doubt.
The court further established that the survivor had positively identified the accused, whom she knew as a neighbour and former farmhand. It dismissed his defence that he was elsewhere when the offence occurred.
Honourable Agade Savai Eddah convicted Irenyo on October 14, 2026, before sentencing him to 10 years' imprisonment on October 29, 2026.
The prosecution was led by counsel Sarah Nanyama Kitui.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said the conviction underscored its commitment to pursuing justice for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, particularly vulnerable members of society, and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable.
