The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has secured a 20-year jail term for a man convicted of defiling his 13-year-old step-daughter in Kiserian township, Kajiado County.

The convict was found guilty of defilement contrary to Section 8(1) as read with Section 8(3) of the Sexual Offences Act. He faced an alternative charge of committing an indecent act with a minor under Section 11(1) of the same Act.

The offence took place on June 16, 2024, when the minor was performing household chores. According to court testimony, the step-father took the girl into the bedroom and defiled her.

When she attempted to scream, he covered her mouth with his hands and offered her Ksh. 1,000 to keep silent. The girl declined the bribe and later reported the incident to a neighbour, who promptly took her for medical attention.

Prosecution counsel Filah Martins and Christopher presented a strong case, calling five witnesses, including the minor herself. The victim told the court she had lived with the convict as her step-father for approximately four years.

In delivering the verdict, the court ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. The convict’s defence was dismissed as a mere afterthought.

The sentence was handed down on July 9, 2026, after the court reviewed the circumstances of the case, including a pre-sentence report. The magistrate emphasized the need to protect children from sexual violence, particularly within the home environment where they should feel safest.

This conviction adds to growing efforts by the DPP and the judiciary to combat sexual offences against minors in Kenya.