This archive report was first published on 17 July 2019.
On May 7, 2014, Bernard Litokho Makacha, a bicycle mechanic, committed a heinous crime in Lujumbe Village, Butere Sub-county. He defiled a 14-year-old girl, identified as MN, after threatening to slit her throat with a knife.
According to the court ruling, Makacha was recognized by two witnesses who placed him at the scene of the crime. The girl had fallen asleep on a sofa while doing an assignment when Makacha broke a window and stormed the house at night.
He grabbed the girl and threatened her with the knife before starting to defile her. The minor's sister, who was 10 years old at the time, was asleep in the bedroom but was awoken by the loud bang. She identified Makacha and was hit by him before being ordered to go back to sleep.
After the crime, Makacha vanished, but the girl's uncle took her to Bukura Heath Center and reported the matter to the police at Butere Police Station. Makacha was later arrested and convicted to 20 years by a lower magistrate's court.
However, Makacha lodged an appeal, claiming that his trial was marred with contradictory evidence that was not corroborated. The High Court in Kakamega, presided over by Judge Jesse Njagi, dismissed the appeal but lowered the sentence to 15 years.
