Kenyan Judge Wins International Worst Ruling 'Award'

Last year’s International award of the world’s worst court ruling for women’s rights has been ‘awarded’ to a Malindi High Court judge after his decision to free a man convicted of raping a 13-year-old. In his ruling to dismiss the case, the Judge said that the minor appeared willing to have sex with the man.

His verdict has now been voted was the worst, winning the Golden Bludgeon award by Women’s Link Worldwide, an international body of women in the legal fraternity.

Justice Said Juma Chitembwe on April 25, 2016 declined to hand a 20-year jail term to 24-year-old Martin Charo, even after evidence showed he defiled the girl between December 2011 and January 2012 in Kilifi County.

The judgment was named during the Gender Justice Uncovered Awards that distinguishes the best and worst court rulings on gender equality from all over the world. Chitembwe’s judgment was listed alongside 18 other worst cases.

In his ruling, Judge Chitembwe ruled that “It would be unfair to have the appellant serve 20 years behind bars yet PW1 [the minor victim] was after sex from him.”