This archive report was first published on 18 July 2019.
On July 18, 2019, a court in Kenya made headlines with a controversial ruling in a case involving a 13-year-old boy who was allegedly sexually assaulted by an Uber driver.
According to reports, the boy's aunt had requested the Uber service for him, but the driver, Fredrick Mungai Njenga, 33, allegedly took advantage of the situation and committed the heinous act.
Senior Resident Magistrate Yusuf Shikanda released Njenga on Ksh.50,000 cash bail, citing that the charge of 'indecent act' was not applicable since the mouth is not a genital organ. The prosecution was ordered to rewrite the charge sheet and return to court on July 23 for plea taking.
The boy, who is in class 8, was allegedly stripped and forced into oral sex by the driver. The aunt became concerned after the ride took too long and went out to check on the car, only to find it parked by the side of the road a few metres from the house.
When questioned, the boy confessed to his aunt what had happened.
