Man, 62, Sentenced to 15 Years for Brutal Rape in Lamu

A 62-year-old man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for rape by a court in Lamu, Kenya.

John Ndukwe Murunga was found guilty of raping a woman in Kipungani, Lamu County, on 21 July 2025. The court also sentenced him to one year in prison for assault causing actual bodily harm after evidence showed he violently subdued the victim during the attack.

The prosecution presented testimony from four witnesses and medical evidence, which confirmed that the victim suffered serious injuries, including stab wounds and strangulation marks. Murunga, who maintained his innocence, did not call any witnesses in his defence. Resident Magistrate Flavian Mulama ruled that the evidence was conclusive and convicted him on both charges. 

The magistrate said that the attack was brutal and premeditated, noting that Murunga had escalated the assault after the victim resisted his unwanted advances. Under Kenya’s Sexual Offences Act, the minimum sentence for rape is 10 years, with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. 

In this case, the magistrate imposed a 15-year sentence, taking into account the severity of the offence and the violent circumstances surrounding it. Although Murunga had no prior criminal record, the court declared him a dangerous sexual offender and ordered that his name be added to the Sex Offenders’ Register. 

The sentence also accounts for the time Murunga has already spent in custody.