Isiolo man handed five years for raping 31-year-old woman

An Isiolo court has sentenced a man for five years after finding him guilty of raping a 31-year-old woman at Yamicha, Merti sub-county.

Issak Dika, a herder at Yamicha chief’s farm, was accused of committing the offense on March 31, 2017.

He is said to have ambushed the woman, who was in the company of two others, while on their way to fetch water.

While testifying in court, the victim said the man hit her on the neck with a club before raping her as the other women escaped.

YAMICHA WATER POINT

“We were walking towards Yamicha water point when Dika emerged from a nearby thicket and started chasing us. He got hold of me and hit me with a rungu before committing the act,” the victim told the court.

She added: “I screamed but there were no people to help, he raped me for nearly one hour.”

In his defence, the accused denied raping the woman. He claimed that the chief framed him up for boycotting work over Sh26,000 salary arrears.

“I did not commit the act as it is against my religious belief as a Muslim. He (chief) framed me up for leaving work over my delayed salary,” Dika told court while seeking leniency.

The court found that the accused suffered physically and psychologically from the ordeal.  

SUFFERED

In his ruling, Isiolo Chief Magistrate Samuel Mungai said there was need for a deterrent sentence as the offence was serious and had become prevalent.

“I am alive to the fact that the accused has been in remand since 2017 and I am satisfied that a deterrent sentence is necessary. I sentence him to serve five years’ imprisonment,” Mr Mungai ruled.