A court in Lamu has sentenced an 18-year-old student to life imprisonment after convicting him of sexually assaulting a nine-year-old fellow pupil in a school toilet.
The court heard that the offence was committed on diverse dates in October 2025 at a primary school in Langoni Location, Lamu Central subcounty.
Lamu Principal Magistrate Peter Wasike found that the 18-year-old committed an act of defilement against the Grade Three pupil inside the school's toilet.
The court heard that on the material day, the victim went to the toilet when the accused, who was also a pupil at the same school, followed him and ordered him to undress.
When the minor hesitated, the convict slapped him on the back, forcing him to comply.
Two other pupils entered the toilet and witnessed the incident.
The accused allegedly covered the victim's mouth before promising the two pupils money if they did not report the matter to a teacher.
The incident came to light after a teacher noticed the minor appeared disturbed and questioned him.
Although he initially denied what had happened out of fear, the child later identified the accused in court as the person who assaulted him.
The victim's mother took him to hospital, where he was examined and found to have been sexually assaulted.
Prosecution witness Dr Kombo Bwana Mohamed told the court the child had bruises at the anal entrance and a loose anal sphincter.
"This was confirmation of sodomy and evidence of repeated sodomy," the doctor told the court.
The investigating officer produced photographs, medical reports and birth certificates as exhibits to support the prosecution's case.
In his judgment, Wasike said the prosecution had proved the three essential ingredients of the offence beyond reasonable doubt: the victim's age, penetration and the identity of the perpetrator.
The magistrate dismissed the convict's request for DNA testing, saying the victim's testimony was consistent and sufficiently corroborated by medical evidence.
"There is no legal requirement for DNA as proof of penetration. The evidence on record is sufficient," the magistrate ruled.
The court informed the convict that he has a right to appeal the sentence within 14 days.
