Lamu man jailed for 30 years for repeatedly sodomising 14-year-old boy

A 23-year-old man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for the repeated defilement of a Grade 9 pupil in Lamu County.

The verdict was delivered by Principal Magistrate Peter Wasike at the Lamu Law Courts, following a trial that exposed the harrowing abuse endured by the minor.

Lukman Ismail Athman, alias Jelal, was convicted of defilement under Section 8(1), as read with Section 8(3), of the Sexual Offences Act No. 3 of 2006.

He was also found guilty of an alternative charge of committing an indecent act with a child under Section 11(1) of the same Act. The offenses took place between November 14 and 24, 2024, in the Paradise area of Langoni Location.

The court heard that the victim’s mother had offered Athman and his cousin, a visitor from Somalia, shelter in her home.

The abuse began the night after the cousin’s departure, when the victim awoke to find himself naked and Athman assaulting him.

The boy testified that when he resisted, Athman threatened to kill him if he spoke out. The abuse reportedly continued the following day, only coming to light when the victim’s mother noticed Athman leaving the room and questioned her son.

In a heart-wrenching impact statement, the minor described the profound emotional toll of the abuse, including isolation from peers, loss of trust in adults, and blame from his mother, which confined his life to school and home.

The victim’s mother, visibly emotional, revealed that the incident led to her second divorce and left her grappling with shame and guilt.

“I welcomed him into our house. I trusted him. And now I’ve lost everything—my marriage, my peace, and my son’s innocence,” she told the court.

Prosecution Counsel Idris Kipruto Tomno led a robust case, supported by nine witnesses whose corroborating testimonies proved the offense beyond reasonable doubt.

Delivering the verdict, Magistrate Wasike underscored the court’s duty to protect vulnerable children.

“The law exists to protect the most vulnerable, especially children. This court will not hesitate to deliver the harshest penalties to those who prey on them,” he stated.