Court Jails Baby Sagini's Cousin For 40 Years

Rael, Sagini's grandmother, was sentenced to five years in prison while Sagini's aunt, Pacificah, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Jul 24, 2023 - 15:52 Updated: Jul 24, 2023 - 16:24
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Court Jails Baby Sagini's Cousin For 40 Years
Collage image of Alex Ochogo Maina, the cousin of Baby Sagini. /TWITTER.KASS FM

Alex Ochogo Maina, the cousin of Baby Junior Sagini, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison.

A Kisii court on Monday, July 24 handed the sentence to Ochogo, the main suspect in the case whereby he, alongside Pacificah Nyakerario and Rael Nyakerario were charged over the gouging out of Baby Sagini's eyes on December 13, 2022.

Rael, Sagini's grandmother, was sentenced to five years in prison while Sagini's aunt, Pacificah, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Alex Ochogo Maina, Pacificah Nyakerario and Rael Nyakerario in court over the gouging out of Baby Sagini's eyes on April 6, 2023. /VIRALTEAKE.ELIZABETH ANGIRA

The trio were on Friday, July 7 found guilty of causing grievous harm to the three-year-old boy, with Kisii Law Courts Senior Resident Magistrate Christine Ogweno terming the attack on Sagini as barbaric, brutal, savage, and inhuman.

"There's so much he (Sagini) will never see again. One wonders what kind of people these were, who were so heartless to gouge out a child's eyes, put them in a sack and under the bed," Ogweno said.

Delivering her verdict in a fully packed court, the judge affirmed that society owes children protection and a good life having failed Sagini.

She went on to reveal that the minor endured pain and will have to live with pain due to the injury that has deprived him of his vision.

"This court hopes that this perseverance leads him to a bright future," added the judge.

Section 234 of the Penal Code provides that anyone convicted of the offence of causing grievous harm is liable to a maximum of life imprisonment.

A conviction for the offence attracts between 10 years in jail and life imprisonment, which was the case in the sentencing of Alex Maina. The jail term depends on the degree of injuries caused.

The court on Thursday, April 6 found that the three had a case to answer and directed the matter to proceed to a defence hearing, coming after the three were charged with grievous harm.

Previously the three accused persons that include Sagini's grandmother Rael Nyakerario were charged with attempted murder and the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) requested the court to amend the charges of attempted murder to grievous bodily harm according to Section 4 of the Penal Code.

Further, the Court requested that the trio defend themselves after they asked the court to give their testimony under oath, even though they do not have any witnesses to present in the court.

During cross-examination at Kisii Law Courts on Friday, March 10, Sagini alleged that his grandmother, Rael Nyakerario Mayaka, gouged out his eyes using his hands and dumped him at a maize plantation.

Sister Sagini told the court that on that fateful day, they went to the river to fetch water as usual, but Sagini did not turn up since he lost a water jerrican.

She added that they went on with their daily chores, only for one of the residents to inform their grandmother the following day that Baby Sagini had been dumped on the plantation.

The minor further noted that her grandmother chased her away but was unable to stop her. They went to search for him, and later police officers arrived to take Sagini to the hospital for medical attention.

Baby Sagini in hospital. /CITIZEN TV

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