This archive report was first published on 6 September 2019.
On March 23, 2017, a 17-year-old boy was subjected to a horrific gang rape at Meru Police Station. The perpetrators, Dickson Murangiri, Geoffrey Mutethia, and Boniface Kimathi, were found guilty by the Meru Magistrate's court and sentenced to 15 years in jail.
The court heard that the minor had been arrested and charged with assault at the Meru Law Courts, but was later returned to the police station and placed in a cell with two other male inmates. It was there that the gang rape took place, with the perpetrators using the cell door being open as an opportunity to exploit the minor.
According to the minor's testimony, he was woken up by Murangiri around 10pm and taken to the washrooms, where the other two suspects were waiting. The minor reported the incident to his cellmate the next morning, and was subsequently treated at the Meru Level Five Hospital.
Dr. Stephen Chege, a doctor at the hospital, presented a P3 form filled out by a colleague, which contained proof that the minor had been defiled. The officers at the station at the time of the incident also testified, corroborating the minor's account.
However, the case took a twist when state counsel Antony Musyoka informed the court that Murangiri and Kimathi were not first offenders, having previously been convicted of killing Julius Mungathia in 2012 and serving a 20-year sentence.
Meru Chief Magistrate Hannah Ndung'u noted that the accused had opted to remain silent during the trial, and the suspects can appeal the sentence within 14 days.
