A Kilifi court sentenced a 32-year-old barber to 15 years in prison after court found him guilty of raping a 21-year-old student.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) secured the conviction of Mwakombe Katana Karisa after the prosecution proved the rape charge beyond reasonable doubt.
Per Chief Magistrate James N. Mwaniki, at a Kilifi court, in a judgment delivered, the prosecution’s evidence sufficiently linked Karisa to the crime, which took place on July 10 2024 at Kasameni Village in Kilifi County.
The Director of Public Prosecutions he accused was charged with rape under Section 3(1)(a)(c) of the Sexual Offences Act, No. 3 of 2006.
The prosecution led by Principal Counsel Winnie Atieno Otieno, presented testimonial, medical, and forensic evidence that connected Karisa to the crime. The prosecution told the court that the victim was attacked at about 6:00 a. m. While walking to school.
Data shows, Karisa held the student at knife and bottle, point; he threatened, strangled, and sexually assaulted her forcibly after removing her clothing.
The court also heard that the complainant was discovered by an independent witness and was still in a soiled school uniform and at this time she made an immediate report to the witness about the incident.
The medical examination revealed a recent sexual assault, and forensic testing was able to identify spermatozoa on the items taken during the investigation. Subsequent DNA profiling demonstrated that the biological material on the items matched Karisa, implicating him in the crime.
In his defense, Karisa denied the allegations and claimed an alibi but the court determined that the prosecution’s case was strong enough to both place him at the scene and identify him as the perpetrator.
In sentencing, the court noted the seriousness of the offence and emphasized the need to protect vulnerable members of society from sexual violence.
Karisa has given 14 days to file for appeal against the conviction as well as the sentence.
