Briton who preyed on Kenyan boys

What you need to know:

  • Despite living in the servants quarters in his compound, Mr Gichinga never entered Harris’ house from the time he was employed in 1993.
  • One of the boys said Harris could entice them with food, alcohol and cigarettes when he was just 10. He would then lure him to his bed, ordered him to remove his clothes and lie on his stomach.
  • Mr Gichinga said Harris could stay for a week with groups of about 10 boys at a time, before taking them back to town and coming back with a fresh lot.

When Simon Harris came to Kenya in 1993, he arrived with a bounty of promises — especially for the less-privileged street children who needed education, food and shelter.

Little did the vulnerable boys and the community know that the humble and hardworking community worker was a paedophile with a fancy for boys.

Harris, a director of VIE Kenya, wore a deceptive face and portrayed himself as a benevolent charity educator to get what he wanted.

This is the trick he used to win over his victims. A dusty 8km murram road on the outskirts of Gilgil Town leads to the scarcely populated and serene Ridge Mount neighbourhood.

This is where Harris’ home, commonly referred to as the “Green House” by the locals, is located.

'GOOD MAN'

Tucked away from public scrutiny is Harris’ bungalow, sitting on five-acres. His guard, Mr John Gichinga, describes him as a good man who liked playing football with children.

The guard said he only learnt about his boss’ wayward ways after British police ransacked his house in 2011. Despite living in the servants quarters in his compound, Mr Gichinga never entered Harris’ house from the time he was employed in 1993.

“He always came back home with street boys. He would wash them, buy them new clothes and feed them. I never knew what he was up to,” said Mr Gichinga.

Some of his victims narrated tales of how the man would pamper them, only to prey on them at night.

Some of them said they were given alcohol or drugged before being sexually molested.

One of the boys said Harris could entice them with food, alcohol and cigarettes when he was just 10. He would then lure him to his bed, ordered him to remove his clothes and lie on his stomach.

“He could take us to his house where he could give us a bath, food, alcohol and anything else we wanted, including the cigarettes before making us sleep in a bed. He would later come back and select two or three to sleep in his bed,” he said.

USED LAND ROVER

Mr Gichinga said Harris could stay for a week with groups of about 10 boys at a time, before taking them back to town and coming back with a fresh lot. The guard, whose son Michael Mburu was Harris’ victim, said he ferried the street boys in his Land Rover.

Michael was one of the 47 witnesses who bravely testified in the case, but he later committed suicide. His testimony was dropped midway over “legal technicalities”.

“My son and other boys used to play football with Harris, but he never told me what went on in that house” said Mr Gichinga.

“After testifying, Michael returned home looking disturbed and did not speak. His body was later found hanging from a tree in Harris’ compound,” said his father.

A social worker, Mr Dan Nderitu, reported the case after many of the boys opened up about their ordeal. A British court recently handed Harris a 17 year prison term.

Another victim believes the sentence is light. “I do not even have a girlfriend,” he said.