Msambweni Law Courts sentenced Athumani Juma to life imprisonment.
A Msambweni court found Athumani Juma guilty after hearing five prosecution witnesses and examining medical evidence.
A Msambweni court has sentenced a Kwale water vendor to life imprisonment for defiling a seven-year-old boy. The offence occurred in Vivalani village, Lunga Lunga Sub-County, on June 7, 2025.
Senior Principal Magistrate Lucy Kabaria found that the prosecution proved its case against Athumani Juma beyond reasonable doubt. She said the child’s consistent account, medical findings and other witness testimony supported the conviction.
Kwale water vendor convicted under Sexual Offences Act
The Director of Public Prosecutions said Juma’s conviction concerned Section 8(1), read with Section 8(2), of the Sexual Offences Act, 2006. The prosecution called five witnesses during the trial.
The court heard that the Grade Two pupil was playing football when Juma called him. The child declined to follow him, but evidence presented in court described how Juma grabbed him.
Juma then took the boy to his house, where the offence occurred, the court heard. Afterwards, he threatened the child against telling anyone what had happened.
Family raised alarm before medical examination
The boy’s brother and uncle noticed that he could not control his bowel movements. They then asked him to explain what had happened, bringing the incident to light.
The family subsequently reported the matter at Kikoneni Police Station, and the child underwent a hospital examination. Medical evidence presented at trial showed reduced sphincter muscle strength.
The prosecution said this finding was consistent with overstretching and penetration. Kabaria also found that the medical evidence supported the child’s testimony about the assault.
Court rejects defence and explains appeal rights
Juma denied the charge and claimed that someone had framed him. However, the court rejected his defence because it found the prosecution’s evidence credible.
Kabaria also found no doubt about Juma’s identity as the perpetrator. The court noted that the child already knew him through his work selling water in the village.
The magistrate convicted Juma under Section 215 of the Criminal Procedure Code before imposing the life sentence. She also informed him that he had 14 days to appeal against both the conviction and sentence.
