German-Born Man Charged with Defiling and Sexually Assaulting Minors in Kenya

A 62-year-old German national was on Tuesday arraigned in court for defiling and sexually assaulting minors in various parts of the country.

Martin Herman Baumgartner, alias Mato, appeared before a Nakuru court where he was charged with 14 counts of defilement, indecent act, human trafficking, among others. 

Herman, a dual citizen of Kenya and Germany, pleaded not guilty to all 14 charges before Senior Resident Magistrate Emmanuel Soita and will remain in remand until March 1st when a ruling on his bail/bond application will be delivered.

The charge sheet read that on diverse dates between April 2022 and January 23rd, 2023, at Gigiri area in Westlands Sub-County within Nairobi County, Herman intentionally and unlawfully defiled a 17-year-old.

He is also accused of defiling a 17-year-old on diverse dates between 2006 and 2008 at Kwa Mwangi in Bahati. He also faced a charge of inducing an indecent act on a 15-year-old.

The charge sheet also indicated that the accused committed some of the offences in Kwale and Kilifi counties. 

Prosecutor Dismus Langat opposed the release of Herman on bond, citing that he was a flight risk.

Investigating officer Evalyne Mboya said the accused has a huge influence and might interfere with witnesses as he has greater attachment to his victims, whom he pays for their upkeep.

“The accused, being the Director of Twajenga Holdings Limited Company, has great influence in the community. He is a flight risk being of dual citizenship,” Mboya told the court.