An assistant chief was on Friday sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually assaulting an orphaned girl.
David Ngondu Malombe of Ndatani sub-location in Mutomo District was not given the option of a fine by Mutomo resident magistrate Samuel Mutai.
The administrator, who faced two charges, had impregnated the 15-year-old girl and sneaked her out of the area to cover up defilement claims.
However, the police found the Standard Eight girl in Jipe village, Taveta District, after the Saturday Nation exposed her tribulations early last year.
The first charge was that on diverse dates in November 2008, Malombe defiled the girl at Ndatani. He also faced an alternative charge of indecently assaulting the minor.
Drop out
The court relied heavily on the evidence of the victim who narrated how she was persuaded to drop out of school by the assistant chief and go into hiding until she gave birth.
The magistrate acquitted the administrator on the first defilement charge under Section 215 of the Criminal procedure code due to lack of adequate evidence but convicted him on the second charge.
The prosecution produced several witnesses, including the orphan’s maternal uncle and her primary school headteacher.
My thoughts
It comes as no surprise to me than young girls run to their local government officials for help only this men turn on them and destroys their lives, if children cannot be protected by their own government who can? I remember the untouchables....who only get 10 years!
