School driver to spend life in jail for defiling pupil

A court in Eldoret has sentenced a 31-year-old school driver to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of defiling a three-year-old playgroup pupil under his care.

Principal Magistrate Cherono Kesses ruled that the prosecution had proved its case against Bernard Kipkorir beyond reasonable doubt.

The court heard that Kipkorir committed the offence inside a school van as he ferried pupils home on May 8 in Katuiyo, Ainabkoi Subcounty, Uasin Gishu County.

“The accused violated the innocence of a minor entrusted under his care, and this court has a duty to protect children as provided under the law,” the magistrate said in her judgment.

Kesses described the driver’s conduct as “unacceptable” and “a betrayal of trust,” before sentencing him to life imprisonment under the Sexual Offences Act No. 3 of 2006.

Evidence presented in court, including medical reports and witness testimony, confirmed that the child had been sexually assaulted.

The victim’s grandmother told the court she noticed the girl walking with difficulty, and upon inquiry, the child identified Kipkorir as the perpetrator.

Human rights groups welcomed the ruling.

Benedine Kipruto, chairperson of the Uasin Gishu Civil Society Network, lauded the judgment as a timely deterrent against child abuse.

“The court has rendered the right judgment that will serve as a warning to anyone thinking of ruining the lives of innocent children,” she said.

Activist Kimutai Kirui hailed the sentence as “a victory for child protection and human dignity,” urging parents, schools, and authorities to strengthen vigilance and create safe spaces for children.

According to a Directorate of Children Services report, Uasin Gishu recorded 84 cases of child sexual abuse between 2021 and 2022, with more than 50 cases reported in the first two months of 2025 alone — figures that underscore the growing challenge of child protection in the region.

Kipkorir had denied the charge, claiming he dropped the child at home without incident. He told the court that the child was asleep in the van and appeared drowsy when he handed her over to her family.

“I did not do such a thing. I remember dropping the child home though she was still sleepy when I removed her from the car,” he said in his defence.

Before sentencing, Kipkorir pleaded for leniency, saying he had a young family that depended on him.

“I am the breadwinner of my family and I ask the court to have mercy on me,” he said.

However, the magistrate rejected his plea and proceeded to deliver her detailed verdict, sending Kipkorir to prison for life.

The court granted him 14 days to appeal.

Family members of both the convict and the victim, as well as human rights activists, were present during the sentencing.