A Nakuru court has sentenced a 20-year-old woman to 20 years in prison after finding her guilty of defiling a Form Four student in a case that has drawn widespread public attention and sparked debate across Kenya.
The convicted woman, Mercy Mwende from Sotik in Bomet County, was found guilty after the court examined evidence detailing how the incident unfolded.Court records showed that she completed her Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examinations in 2022, where she attained a C+ grade before later meeting the student through Facebook.
According to the prosecution, the pair communicated online for several weeks before agreeing to meet in person.
Mwende later travelled to Elburgon in Nakuru County with a friend to attend a school-themed photo session.
After the event, they were unable to secure transport home after missing the last public service vehicle.
The court heard that the student offered the two women a place to spend the night at his family home.
The following morning, after the homeowner had left for work, his grandmother reportedly discovered Mwende with the Form Four student in circumstances that raised concern.During the confrontation, the elderly woman was allegedly assaulted by one of the visitors, who fled the scene before police arrived.
Mwende remained at the house and was arrested by officers responding to the incident.
Medical examinations presented during the trial confirmed that sexual activity had taken place, leading to criminal charges against the two women.
They were initially charged with defilement and gang rape.
The court also heard that there were attempts to resolve part of the dispute through compensation linked to the alleged assault on the student’s grandmother.
However, those efforts failed, and the matter proceeded to a full hearing.
At the conclusion of the trial, the court acquitted Mwende’s co-accused after finding that the evidence against her was insufficient.
Mwende was, however, convicted and sentenced to serve 20 years in prison.
The judgement has continued to attract mixed reactions online, with many Kenyans expressing different opinions about the ruling and the circumstances surrounding the case.