A heartbreaking story has emerged from Nyeri County involving a teenager, Chasan Maingi Githua, who was sentenced to life imprisonment over a defilement case. His story was recently aired by journalist Simon Kibe, sparking mixed reactions from Kenyans online.
Chasan, who is now 18 years old, claims the case against him was fueled by a long-standing family conflict. According to his account, the troubles began after the death of his father. His mother left their homestead, and he later went to live with her. However, his paternal grandmother later took him in, reportedly so he could inherit his late father’s property.
Things allegedly took a turn after the death of his grandmother. Chasan says his uncle began threatening him, warning him to leave the family property or face dire consequences. He claims his uncle openly expressed intentions to get rid of him and allegedly orchestrated a plan to eliminate him from the inheritance.
In 2023, when Chasan was in Form Three and just 17 years old, he was arrested and charged with defiling his uncle’s eight-year-old daughter. Despite maintaining his innocence, medical reports presented in court indicated that the minor had been defiled—evidence that shocked Chasan and left him feeling helpless.
Chasan also alleges that his uncle hired a lawyer for the case, while he had no legal representation. Due to his young age and lack of resources, he was unable to adequately defend himself in court.
Although he was initially released on a Ksh 200,000 bond to continue his studies, Chasan was sentenced to life in prison shortly after completing his KCSE exams in early 2025.
He is now appealing to well-wishers and human rights organizations to look into his case. Chasan maintains that he is innocent and believes he was wrongfully convicted.
Note: This report highlights one side of the story as shared by Chasan Maingi Githua. The details of the case and judgment are subject to judicial review and any legal redress must follow due process.
