Pastor gets 70 years in jail for defiling two minor congregants

A Nairobi magistrate yesterday sentenced a pastor to 70 years imprisonment after finding him guilty of defiling two minors 11 years ago by invoking God’s name.

Milimani Principal Magistrate Caroline Njagi sentenced the pastor to 59 years in jail for count one and 20 years for count two.

The accused who ran a church in Ngong’, will, however, serve 50 years as the court ordered for the sentences to run concurrently.

Earlier, the preacher was found guilty of defiling the children aged 11 and 14 at the time while using religious manipulations. The man of cloth faced two counts of repeatedly defiling the children who were congregants at his church.

In her ruling, Njagi said evidence adduced in court proved the case against the pastor beyond reasonable doubt.

“In the circumstances, it is my finding that the prosecution evidence in this regard is watertight on counts 1 and 2 herein,” she said. “I find that the two minors were truthful witnesses and their evidence was corroborated by medical evidence.

I do find that the prosecution proved their case to the required standard as against the accused person herein on the charge of defilement in counts 1 and 2. The accused person is convicted as charged as per the provisions of Section 215 of the CPC.”

The pastor was found guilty of defiling the two minors between December 24, 2014 and January 7, 2015.

The court heard that he defiled the children while using religious connotations and manipulations. The pastor faced two counts of repeatedly defiling the children who were congregants at his church.

“In the circumstances, it is my finding that the prosecution evidence in this regard is watertight on counts 1 and 2 herein,” she said.

“I find that the two minors were truthful witnesses and their evidence was corroborated by medical evidence. I do find that the prosecution proved their case to the required standard as against the accused person herein on the charge of defilement in counts 1 and 2. The accused person is convicted as charged as per the provisions of Section 215 of the CPC.”

Njagi said the accused in his defence and throughout the trial raised issues of mental illness.
He, however, said a medical examination established that the accused was fit to stand trial and set the date for his sentencing on August 8.

“In fact, it was in evidence that he was working as pastor of a church and also had a role in the Sacco. When he testified before the court, he told the court that he was aware he was facing charges of defilement,” Njagi said.