Court Releases Man Jailed for 100 Years Over Defilement of Minors

A Nairobi man who had been sentenced to serve 100 years in prison for defiling minors has been released after the court discovered shocking new details that turned the entire case upside down.

The man, who once served as the director of a children’s home in Nairobi, was convicted in 2022 after being accused of sexually abusing four minors between 2010 and 2016. 

He had maintained his innocence from the beginning, insisting he was framed.

According to reports from Kenyans.co.ke, the minors recently confessed in a 2024 appeal hearing that they were forced to lie. 

One of them revealed that a foreign sponsor of the institution had promised them money and gifts if they agreed to accuse the man of sexual abuse. 

They were also allegedly coached on what to tell the police and the court to ensure his conviction.

When these new revelations surfaced, the court reviewed the case and found that the initial conviction had been based on manipulated testimonies. 

The prosecution could not disprove the fresh evidence, leading the court to overturn the sentence.

In her earlier 2022 ruling, Principal Magistrate Zainab Abdul had stated that the 100-year jail term would serve as a deterrent to other offenders due to the serious nature of the alleged crimes. 

She also denied the accused a non-custodial sentence, citing the need for justice for the victims.

During his trial, the accused faced multiple counts, including sodomy, indecent acts with minors, and attempted defilement.

Prosecutors even described him as a “serial defiler,” claiming he had continued committing similar offences while on bail.

However, the appeal court noted inconsistencies in the testimonies and found no physical or medical evidence linking him to the alleged crimes. 

It also faulted the initial investigation for relying solely on statements made by minors who later admitted they were coached.