MCA charged, detained for alleged defilement

By Peter Ochieng

A Member of the County Assembly (MCA) has been charged for defilement.

Bunyala West MCA Carlbenz Okonya was charged and detained, following claims of defiling a 14-year-old girl.

The MCA denied allegations levelled against him, according to a statement from the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).

He was arraigned before Edna Nyaloti, Busia Chief Magistrate.

The MCA denied charges, earning him two days in police custody.

The county legislature will be back in court on Thursday, September 28, 2023.

The prosecution led by Faith Kaberia and Abraham Mumo, had sought orders to detain the suspect for 14 days.

They opposed bail and bond requests citing the possibility of witness interference.

“The prosecution made an application to oppose bail and bond and requested that the bail and bond hearing be deferred for 14 days to allow the witness protection agency to assess and place the victim and her family under protection,” stated ODPP.

Elsewhere, a 39-year-old Mombasa bodaboda rider will serve 40 years in prison for defiling his relative aged 8 years.

Mwarabu Omar Pato was convicted by Senior Resident Magistrate David Odhiambo, who ruled that the prosecution, through PC Barbara Sombo, had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt by proving the three ingredients of the age of the minor, penetration, and positive identification of the accused in the defilement case.

The offence was committed on 14th November 2022, in the Mikanjuni area of Jomvu Sub-county within Mombasa County.