A 70-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after a Kajiado court found him guilty of defiling a 13-year-old girl in a case prosecuted by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).

According to a statement shared by the ODPP on its official X account on August 6, the conviction was delivered by Hon. Gachuki Nelson Njuguna at the Loitoktok Magistrate’s Court.

The accused was convicted of “defilement contrary to Section 8(1) as read with Section 8(3) of the Sexual Offences Act” and sentenced to a 20-year custodial term.

Principal Prosecution Counsel Thomas Mwaura told the court that the offence occurred on January 11, 2026, when the victim had gone to a local market to purchase water.

“The minor had gone to purchase water at a local market when the accused lured her to his house and defiled her,” the prosecution stated.

The court heard that the girl’s father, acting on information from a concerned neighbour, arrived at the scene and found the accused committing the offence, leading to his immediate arrest.

“The victim’s father, acting on a tip from a vigilant neighbour, arrived in time to find the accused in the act, leading to his immediate arrest,” the ODPP said.

In its judgment delivered on August 4, 2026, the court ruled that the prosecution had proved all the essential elements of the offence.

“The prosecution had proven all the essential elements of defilement under Section 8(1) as read with Section 8(3) of the Sexual Offences Act,” the court found, citing the victim’s age, proof of penetration, and positive identification of the perpetrator through credible witness testimony and corroborating medical evidence.

Although the defence urged the court to consider the accused’s advanced age and previous good character, the court upheld the mandatory minimum sentence prescribed by law, emphasizing the need to protect children and ensure justice for survivors of sexual violence.