A pastor was has been jailed for 15 years by a Gichugu court for defiling an underage school girl in Kirinyaga County.
The spiritual leader, Bedan Gichobi had been accused that on May 31, 2017 at Kiandai village, he willingly defiled a Standard Seven girl aged 16.
Resident Magistrate Ken Odhiambo said evidence adduced in court by four prosecution witnesses proved beyond any reasonable doubt that the married pastor, who preaches in a local church, had committed the offence and as such he was guilty as charged.
In mitigation, the pastor said he was remorseful and pleaded with the court to be lenient when making the judgment.
The pastor asked the court to prefer a non-custodial sentence against him because his flock may suffer if he was put behind bars.
Delivering the sentence, Mr Odhiambo noted that sexual offence was a serious one and it attracts heavy punishment.
He said a long jail term should be preferred against the pastor to serve as a stern warning to other would be offenders.
Immediately after the court’s verdict, the pastor who appeared shaken, was whisked off to Kerugoya GK prison under tight security as family members in court watched in disbelieve.
The pastor was said to have enticed the girl and defiled her in turns and warned her against informing anyone.
However, the complainant defied the pastor’s warning and narrated her ordeal to her parents who then reported the matter at the Kianyaga police station.
The girl was taken to the hospital and after medical examination, it was established that she had been sexually abused. She was treated.
Later police commenced their investigations and arrested the pastor who was then arraigned in court facing a defilement charge.