A 40-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after being convicted of raping an 86-year-old woman in Mukurwe-ini Sub-County, Nyeri County.
Jairus Githendu Irenyo was found guilty of rape under Section 3(1)(a) and (b), read together with Section 3(3) of the Sexual Offences Act, following a trial at the Mukurwe-ini Magistrate’s Court.
The offence occurred on September 1, 2025, at Gitura Village in Kiharo Location. The court heard that Irenyo broke into the elderly woman’s home after damaging a section of the wall next to her door. He then restrained and sexually assaulted her using force and threats of violence. After the incident, the survivor sought help from the area chief, explaining that she feared for her safety. She also disclosed that the accused had allegedly assaulted her on previous occasions but she had remained silent because of shame.
The chief referred the matter to the police, leading to investigations and the eventual prosecution of the accused.
The prosecution presented six witnesses, among them the area chief, a neighbour who testified to hearing the woman’s cries for help on the night of the attack, a clinical officer and the investigating officer. Medical records, laboratory request forms and photographs documenting damage to the survivor’s house were also presented as evidence.
In its determination, the court ruled that the prosecution had established the elements of rape beyond reasonable doubt. It further found the survivor’s identification of Irenyo reliable, noting that she knew him as a neighbour and a former farmhand. The court dismissed his defence, including his claim that he was elsewhere when the offence took place.
In a judgment delivered on October 14, 2026, Magistrate Agade Savai Eddah convicted Irenyo of rape. He was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment on October 29, 2026.
