Kenya ‘risky’ to visit, says American in child-sex case

What you need to know:

  • “It’s risky for anyone to go to Kenya at this time,” Mr Jones told the Associated Press news agency on Friday.
  • US prosecutors last week added new charges against Mr Jones’ client, Mr Matthew Lane Durham, who is accused of defiling as many as 10 boys and girls, aged five to 15, while as a volunteer worker last year at Upendo Children’s Home.

New York, US
The defence attorney for a US man accused of defiling children at an orphanage near Juja is seeking postponement of the trial, saying it is “risky” to travel to Kenya to gather information.

Attorney Stephen Jones cites concerns about terrorism in Kenya in his request for a delay of at least 90 days in the trial scheduled to begin on March 10. “It’s risky for anyone to go to Kenya at this time,” Mr Jones told the Associated Press news agency on Friday. He has pointed to the State Department’s travel advisory on Kenya as the basis for his concerns.

US prosecutors last week added new charges against Mr Jones’ client, Mr Matthew Lane Durham, who is accused of defiling as many as 10 boys and girls, aged five to 15, while as a volunteer worker last year at Upendo Children’s Home.

The 20-year-old resident of the midwestern US state of Oklahoma is now charged with 24 federal crimes related to sex abuse he allegedly committed between April 30 and June 17, 2014.

If convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison. Mr Durham, who is being held by federal authorities, pleaded not guilty on Friday to the new set of charges.