An 85-year-old Swiss national has been arrested by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for the allegedly defiling a teenage girl.

Gisler Emil Johann was taken into custody in Watamu after detectives allegedly found the 15-year-old minor inside his residence.

According to the girl’s parents she had vanished without a trace on February 1, 2026, sparking immediate concern among family and locals.

According to initial police reports, the victim was discovered during a swift operation at the suspect’s home.

The suspect was arrested on the spot, while the teenager was rushed to Gede Sub-County Hospital for urgent medical examination, treatment, and counseling.

Authorities are now piecing together the timeline: how the minor went missing, what led to her being at the elderly foreign national’s residence, and the full circumstances of the alleged crime.

Defilement of a minor carries severe penalties under Kenyan law, including life imprisonment upon conviction. The DCI has confirmed the suspect remains in custody as investigations deepen, with possible charges to be filed soon.