Catholic priest in Trans Nzoia charged with raping girl, 10

A priest in Tarns Nzoia county was on Monday charged with defiling a minor. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Woman sent her daughter to buy kerosene but she took too long to return home.
  • Accused out on bond after pleading not guilty.

A Catholic priest at Kipsaina Parish in Trans Nzoia County was on Monday charged with attempting to defile a minor.

Fr Benard Magina Masinde, who appeared before senior resident magistrate Paul Mutai, was also charged with committing an indecent act against the 11-year-old girl who is also a church dancer.

BUY KEROSENE

He was accused of committing the offences on September 15, 2018, at Kipsaina trading centre in Cherangany Sub-county.

According to the minor's mother, on the material day at around 7pm, she sent her daughter to Kipsaina to buy kerosene but she took long to return home.

"I decided to go look for her at the trading centre only to find her inside a vehicle which was parked by the road with the priest who was half naked," she said.

She immediately raised an alarm alerting the public who apprehended the priest and took him to the nearest police station.

The accused pleaded not guilty and was released on a surety bond of Sh300,000.

The case will be heard on October 1.