Senior principal magistrate Zainab Abdul said Stephen Nzuki should have protected the minors but instead he defiled them several times at the shelter in Nairobi.
"There is no doubt the offences committed are very serious and carry a heavy penalty. It is, therefore, the responsibility of this court to impose a deterrent sentence to other would-be offenders," Abdul said in a judgment delivered last week.
Nzuki had pleaded for leniency and a non-custodial sentence, which the court declined. A non-custodial sentence in such a case would be a mockery of the justice system, Abdul said.
In sentencing Nzuki, Abdul said the court considered that the minors, who are now adults, have been affected adversely by the actions of the accused.
In count one, in which the minor was nine years old at the time of the offence, the accused will serve 50 years.
He will serve 20 years for defiling a 15-year-old and 20 years for defiling a 13-year-old boy.
The former children's home director will serve 10 years for committing an indecent act with a minor.
The offences were committed between 2010 and 2016 at Scream Africa Children's Home at Mihango in the Utawala area of Nairobi.
In the judgment delivered last week, the court considered that the boys' handwritten notes written on May 22, 2016, gave an account of the abuse.
The court said the notes were written on a date much closer to when the abuse occurred, thus, their memories were much better.
The court also found that the ages of the victims were sufficiently proved by the dental records produced in court.
The court said it was satisfied this case was an issue of recognition as the boys knew the accused for a long period, having stayed with him at the children's home.
The court dismissed Nzuki's defence, saying sexual offences are done in great secrecy and just denying the defilement was not sufficient defence.
The court also said it did not find any reason the boys would want to frame the director.
Nzuki had made an application to have one of the four boys to come and testify in his defence, but the court declined.
Twelve prosecution witnesses testified. The defence called six witnesses after Nzuki was found to have a case to answer.
The International Justice Mission (IJM) representing the victims in court. It also offered psychosocial care to the victims who were traumatised following the abuse.
(Edited by V. Graham)
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