The International Justice Mission (IJM) Kenya has welcomed a life imprisonment sentence imposed on Athumani Juma for defiling a seven-year-old child, describing the ruling as a significant step towards justice for child survivors of sexual violence.

Speaking during a media briefing at Msambweni Law Courts following the online delivery of the ruling, IJM Kenya Advocate Susan Balongo said the judgment demonstrated the importance of coordinated efforts among communities, healthcare workers and justice institutions in protecting children and holding offenders accountable.

The case arose from an incident in June 2025 in Kwale County and progressed from reporting to sentencing in less than 14 months.

In delivering the sentence, Senior Principal Magistrate Leah Kabaria said the decision was informed by evidence presented in court and medical reports detailing the lasting effects of the abuse on the survivor

The court heard that the child continued to experience psychological trauma, insomnia and social isolation following the incident, which also disrupted her education and necessitated a change of school.

The survivor was also reported to have experienced stigma from other children and required ongoing counselling and psychosocial support.

The magistrate observed that the evidence demonstrated the profound and enduring impact of the offence, noting that the child was still struggling with its effects more than a year after the incident.

The court subsequently sentenced Juma to life imprisonment and informed him of his right to appeal within 14 days if dissatisfied with the decision.

IJM Kenya said the timely conclusion of the case demonstrated what could be achieved when communities and justice institutions worked together to ensure child survivors accessed justice without unnecessary delays.

“Community members and paralegals from Tuwajali Wajane played a role in protecting the child, preserving critical evidence and reporting the incident to the police for investigation,” said Balongo who is an advocate at IJM-Kenya.

“Healthcare workers documented the abuse and provided medical care, while criminal justice actors contributed to securing accountability through the legal process,” she added.

IJM Kenya represented the child and her family throughout the proceedings and facilitated counselling and psychosocial support to help them navigate the justice process and begin their recovery.

The organisation also commended the Msambweni Court Users Committee for strengthening coordination among justice actors and improving case management through standard operating procedures for sexual and gender-based violence cases.

Mwanasha Gaserego, director of Tuwajali Wajane in Kwale, welcomed the sentence and urged parents and community members to remain vigilant in protecting children, particularly during the school holidays.

“We urge parents and the community to continue protecting children and report cases of abuse without remaining silent,” she said.

Mohamed Mwakuyala of the Justice Restoration and Child Care Organisation in Lunga Lunga commended the court for concluding the case within a relatively short period, urging the judiciary to expedite other pending cases involving violence against children.

Gabriel Mukhwana Baraza of the Safe Jamii Social Justice Centre called for stronger collaboration between communities, civil society organizations and government institutions to safeguard children.

“Child protection is not the responsibility of organizations alone; it is a responsibility we all share with the government and other stakeholders,” he said.

IJM Kenya said that although the sentence marked an important step towards accountability, the survivor’s recovery remained ongoing and would require continued counselling, psychosocial care and other support services.

The organization reaffirmed its commitment to working alongside government agencies, justice actors and communities to strengthen child protection systems and ensure children could live free from violence.

by Chari Suche