Deputy headteacher convicted, handed 28-year jail term in defilement case

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has secured a 28-year prison sentence against a deputy headteacher of a private school in Thika, following a court conviction in a defilement case involving a 13-year-old student.

According to a statement from the DPP, the former school administrator had been charged with defilement contrary to Section 8(1) as read with Section 8(3) of the Sexual Offences Act.

The prosecution, led by State Counsels Grace Emisiko and Edna Sudi, told the court that the complainant was a minor aged 13 years and that the offence occurred within the school precincts, where the man held a position of authority.

The trial court, the statement notes, ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, leading to a conviction.

"The Deputy Headteacher of the aforementioned private school was found guilty of defiling a 13-year-old girl who was one of his students within the school precincts," the statement reads.

However, the DPP noted that the man did not appear in court on the scheduled judgment date of February 27, 2025, and was later reported to have absconded.

Following his absence, the matter came up for mention several times as efforts were made to trace him.

On December 3, 2025, the prosecution applied to the court seeking orders for sentencing to proceed in his absence, citing failure to attend court despite being aware of the proceedings.

"The court, through Senior Resident Magistrate Hon. D. Milimu, allowed the application," the statement further reads.

The magistrate subsequently sentenced him to 28 years’ imprisonment, in line with the mandatory provisions of the Sexual Offences Act for defilement of a minor aged between 12 and 15 years.

The sentence comes months after the DPP charged a 22-year-old madrasa teacher in Lamu in a separate defilement case involving a four-year-old girl.

According to a statement issued by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the man was arraigned before the Lamu Law Courts, where he faced a principal charge of defilement.

"The individual was arraigned before the Lamu Law Courts, where he faced charges of defilement contrary to Section 8(1), as read with Section 8(4) of the Sexual Offences Act No. 3 of 2006," the ODPP wrote.

He also faced an alternative count of committing an indecent act with a child.

The court heard that the offence was allegedly committed in September 2025.

Appearing before Principal Magistrate Peter Wasike, he denied both charges.

Through his lawyer, the man applied for release on reasonable bond terms.

However, prosecution counsel opposed the application, telling the court that releasing him at this stage could interfere with ongoing investigations and key witnesses.