Former Thika Deputy Headteacher Sentenced to 28 Years for Defiling 13-Year-Old Pupil

A former deputy headteacher at a primary school in Thika has been sentenced to 28 years in prison after a court found him guilty of defiling a 13-year-old pupil.

The convict, John Kamau, committed the offence between April and October 2023 while serving as a senior teacher at the school in Thika West Sub-County, Kiambu County.

In delivering the judgment, Resident Magistrate Evangelista Kithinji said the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. The court relied heavily on the testimony of the minor, who appeared as the key witness.

The magistrate noted that the child’s evidence was clear, consistent and detailed, adding that it was fully supported by medical reports and corroborated by testimonies from other witnesses, including the investigating officer and the child’s mother.

The court dismissed the defence’s attempt to question the minor’s conduct, ruling that such arguments were irrelevant given Kamau’s position of trust, authority and responsibility as a teacher.

During mitigation, Kamau told the court that after the incident he fled to Machakos, where he contemplated suicide before being helped by a Good Samaritan to relocate to Ciakariga in Chuka. He further claimed that he later secured employment as a curriculum coordinator at a private school.

However, the court found the mitigation insufficient to lessen the gravity of the offence.

Kamau was convicted under Section 8(3) of the Sexual Offences Act, which provides for a severe custodial sentence for defilement of a child aged between 12 and 15 years.

Reacting to the ruling, the minor’s family lawyer, Karuga Mbugua, welcomed the sentence, saying it sent a clear warning to perpetrators and reinforced accountability within learning institutions.

“This sentence sends a strong message that sexual offences against children, especially by those entrusted with their care and education, will not be tolerated,” Mbugua said.