Kenyan Man Jailed 100 Years for Defiling Minors Freed on Appeal

A Kenyan appellate court has overturned a 100-year prison sentence handed to a former children’s home director in Nairobi, citing unreliable witness testimony and procedural concerns during the original trial.

The man was convicted in 2022 on multiple counts, including sodomy, indecent acts with minors, and attempted defilement. The offences were said to have occurred between 2010 and 2016 while he served as the director of the institution. 

The High Court imposed a century-long sentence, with Principal Magistrate Zainab Abdul ruling out a non-custodial option, emphasising the seriousness of the charges and the need for deterrence. However, the appeal process brought forward new testimony in 2024 that significantly altered the course of the case. 

One of the minors who had testified during the trial recanted his statements, claiming that he and other children were pressured into making false accusations. The witness alleged that a sponsor linked to the home had influenced their testimonies by offering incentives in exchange for false claims against the accused.

These revelations led the appellate court to re-examine the evidence presented during the trial. Upon review, the court found inconsistencies and credibility issues in the testimonies that had formed the basis of the conviction. 

As a result, the court ruled that the conviction could not stand and ordered the man’s release, unless he was being held in lawful custody over other pending matters. The original case had been controversial. 

Prosecutors had described the accused as a repeat offender and opposed bail, citing an ongoing case at the Makadara Law Courts and allegations of continued abuse while he was out on bail. It was further claimed that the man used religious texts to rationalise his actions, quoting the Bible in an attempt to convince the minors that his conduct was acceptable.