The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has secured a significant milestone in combating human trafficking after a Lamu court handed down a Ksh.30 million fine or 30 years’ imprisonment to a middle-aged woman convicted of trafficking a teenage girl for exploitation.
Resident Magistrate Flavian Mulama convicted Diana Akinyi Simiyu of trafficking in persons contrary to Section 3(1) as read with Section 3(5) of the Counter-Trafficking in Persons Act, 2010, after prosecutors successfully proved their case beyond reasonable doubt.
Prosecution Counsel Ahmed Omar presented evidence from seven witnesses, which revealed how Simiyu deliberately lured, transported and sheltered the 16-year-old minor from Thika to Mpeketoni in Lamu County through deception and manipulation.
The court was told that Simiyu took advantage of the teenager’s vulnerable situation after family disputes, promising her a job and improved living conditions.
The accused coordinated the entire journey, gave the minor pocket money, provided strict instructions to avoid being discovered, and made sure the girl travelled using a different name.
In his ruling, Hon. Mulama stated that Simiyu “conceived and executed the plan” to traffic the child, emphasizing that the evidence clearly established her sole responsibility for the crime. Simiyu, however, failed to appear in court while on bond and was convicted in her absence.
The court has issued orders for her immediate arrest to begin serving her sentence.
In a separate but equally significant victory for child protection, the ODPP has secured a 28-year prison sentence for a deputy headteacher at a private school in Thika who was convicted of defilement.
John Kamau Wachiuri, the deputy headteacher at the private institution, was found guilty of defiling a 13-year-old girl, who was one of his students, within the school compound.
He faced charges under Section 8(1) as read with Section 8(3) of the Sexual Offences Act.
Wachiuri failed to appear in court on February 27, 2025, which was the scheduled judgement date. Following his absence and after several court mentions, the prosecution filed an application on December 3, 2025, requesting that the accused be sentenced despite his failure to attend court proceedings.
Senior Resident Magistrate Milimu granted the prosecution’s application and proceeded to convict and sentence Wachiuri in absentia.
The case was handled by prosecutors Ms. Grace Emisiko and Ms. Edna Sudi.
