The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has secured a life sentence for a Mombasa man convicted of defiling and sexually assaulting three young school-going girls in the Kibarani area of Mikindani, within Jomvu Sub-County.

The suspect, identified as Jonathan Mutuku, a man in his 40s, was on Monday convicted by Hon. Green Odera, the Mombasa Resident Magistrate on multiple charges, including two counts of defilement, one count of committing an indecent act with a child, and one count of sexual assault under the Sexual Offences Act, No. 3 of 2006.

The offences occurred on 26 September 2023, and involved three minors, two girls aged eight and nine, and a third aged eight years.

Principal Prosecution Counsel Purity Musembi led the prosecution team in presenting a total of eight witnesses, comprising the victims, a clinical officer, and the investigating officer.

Key medical evidence, including P3 and PRC forms, was introduced in court to corroborate the testimony of the children and confirmed injuries consistent with sexual assault.

Delivering his ruling, Hon. Odera observed that the victims’ accounts were “consistent, credible and free from malice,” and dismissed the defence’s denial as unfounded. He held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, leading to the imposition of the mandatory life sentence for the serious offences.

The sentencing reflects the provisions of Kenya’s Sexual Offences Act, which mandates harsh penalties for defilement, particularly where very young children are involved.

In a statement, the DPP’s office, reiterated its commitment to ensuring justice for vulnerable victims and holding perpetrators of sexual violence accountable under the law.

Mutuku has been granted 14 days to appeal both the conviction and sentence.