Court Frees Man Jailed for 100 Years After Appeal Overturns Defilement Conviction
Man freed after 100-year defilement conviction overturned: A Nairobi man who had been serving a 100-year prison sentence for defiling four minors has been released after the High Court overturned his conviction, citing coerced testimony and unreliable evidence.
Conviction Overturned After New Evidence Emerged
The man, who served as the director of a children’s home in Nairobi, was convicted in 2022 for allegedly defiling boys under his care between 2010 and 2016. However, new information presented during an appeal hearing in 2024 revealed that the minors had been pressured to give false testimony.
One of the minors testified that a sponsor linked to the children’s home had recruited boys to fabricate statements accusing the director of sexual abuse. The sponsor reportedly promised them monetary rewards if they testified that the man had sodomised them.
Earlier Judgment and Sentence
During the initial 2022 trial, Principal Magistrate Zainab Abdul had found the man guilty of multiple offences, including sodomy, indecent acts with children, and attempted defilement. She ruled that the offences were “serious” and warranted a deterrent sentence to protect minors.
The magistrate further declined to consider a non-custodial sentence, noting that it would amount to a miscarriage of justice. At the time, the prosecution opposed bail, describing the accused as “a serial defiler” who allegedly continued similar offences while out on bond.
Appeal and Release
In his appeal, the convict maintained his innocence, claiming he had been framed by individuals with vested interests in the institution’s management. The appellate court accepted new witness accounts showing inconsistencies in the minors’ testimonies and evidence of coercion.
Following its review, the court set aside the conviction and sentence, ordering the man’s immediate release unless he is held for any other lawful reason.
The ruling highlights the judiciary’s emphasis on fair trial standards and the need for reliable evidence in cases involving children and vulnerable victims.
