Teacher jailed for 25 years for repeatedly defiling 10-year-old child in Mombasa

The Mombasa High Court has overturned the acquittal of a former primary school teacher accused of repeatedly defiling a 10-year-old pupil in 2020.

Appearing before Justice Ann Ong’injo, who was reviewing the 2023 case, Joseck Okumbe was convicted of the sexual assault charges and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) appealed the magistrate court’s decision of 2023, arguing that the lower court ignored overwhelming evidence.

The High Court, after reviewing the evidence, dismissed Okumbe’s defence and concluded that the accused was well known to the victim as their teacher.

“This court finds that the prosecution discharged its burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt. The trial magistrate’s finding is set aside. The respondent is convicted for the offence of defilement and sentenced to serve imprisonment for a period of 25 years,” ruled Justice Ong’injo.

Okumbe is said to have sexually assaulted the 10-year-old child on diverse dates between October 12 and 19, 2020, at the school compound in Kisauni.