A Deputy Headteacher of a private school in Thika has been handed a 28-year jail sentence after being found guilty of defiling a 13-year-old pupil.
In a statement, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) said the accused John Kamau Wachiuri was found guilty of violating Section 8(1) as read with Section 8(3) of the Sexual Offences Act.
The trial established that he committed the offence against the minor within the school precincts, abusing his position of trust and authority over the learner.
“The Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has secured a 28-year prison sentence against a Deputy Headteacher of a private school in Thika after the court found him guilty of defiling a 13-year-old pupil.
“The accused, Mr. John Kamau Wachiuri, was charged under Section 8(1) as read with Section 8(3) of the Sexual Offences Act,” ODPP stated.
The ODPP noted that the accused absonded court on the scheduled judgment date of 27th February 2025.
Following several mentions and unsuccessful attempts to secure his attendance, the prosecution moved the court on 3rd December 2025, seeking to have the accused sentenced in absentia.
Senior Resident Magistrate Hon. D. Milimu allowed the Prosecution’s application, noting that an accused person cannot evade justice by deliberately absconding.
The court subsequently convicted Wachiuri and sentenced him to 28 years’ imprisonment in absentia.
This comes days after the ODPP secured a 20-year jail term for a 21-year-old man found guilty of repeatedly defiling a 14-year-old girl in Likoni Sub-County, Mombasa.
Mombasa Law Courts Senior Resident Magistrate David Odhiambo sentenced Al Haji Majaliwa after ruling that Prosecution, which presented four witnesses, proved its case beyond any reasonable doubt.
Odhiambo further found that Prosecution, led by Principal Prosecution Counsel Barbara Sombo, proved penetration, the child’s age, and the identity of the perpetrator beyond reasonable doubt.
Further, Odhiambo stated that the accused failed to dislodge himself from Prosecution’s case “which remained on high pedestal” when put to his defence under Section 211 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
