A Wamunyu court sentenced Kennedy Mutisya, 26, after hearing how he attacked his 72-year-old neighbour in her home.
A court has jailed Kennedy Mutisya for 10 years in a Machakos rape case involving his 72-year-old neighbour. The 26-year-old from Kitanga village appeared before Wamunyu Senior Resident Magistrate Pascal Nabwana.
The woman told the court that Mutisya repeatedly entered her hut and sexually assaulted her. Meanwhile, a probation report detailed community warnings over what residents described as a secret sexual relationship.
Woman describes attack in Machakos rape case
The charge concerned an attack during the night of January 16 and 17, 2025. Mutisya initially denied raping the woman, but later acknowledged that they had engaged in several secret sexual encounters.
In her testimony, the woman said Mutisya entered her hut through a door with a faulty lock. He then grabbed her neck and strangled her before sexually assaulting her, despite her pleas for him to stop.
She also told the court that the attack was not an isolated incident. She alleged that Mutisya had previously forced his way into her home and assaulted her on other occasions.
The woman said the assaults had harmed her physically, emotionally and psychologically. However, she told the court she would accept a non-custodial sentence if Mutisya paid her Sh20,000 medical expenses.
Probation report details community warnings
Probation Officer Humphrey Mashedi presented a report stating that Kitanga residents had warned Mutisya to end the alleged relationship. He also said both families knew about it and that the neighbours knew each other well.
The report included a family member’s account of a secret affair before the offence. However, the family member also alleged that Mutisya exploited the woman’s mild mental challenges, which they linked to her age.
Those accounts differed from the woman’s testimony, in which she described repeated forced entry and sexual assaults. Mutisya’s acknowledgement of sexual encounters followed his initial denial of the rape charge.
Magistrate cites lack of remorse
During sentencing, Nabwana condemned Mutisya’s conduct and described the case as unusual in his court. He noted that Mutisya was 25 at the time of the offence.
The magistrate also condemned him for forcing entry into the woman’s house, breaking her door and raping her. Nabwana said Mutisya had shown no remorse.
In addition, the court noted his previous conviction for possessing bhang, which had attracted a three-year prison sentence. Nabwana described Mutisya as a repeat offender before imposing the 10-year custodial term.
