Taita,Taveta,KENYA:A Wundanyi Court has sentenced a 32-year old pastor to 14-years-imprisonment after he was found guilty of committing bestiality with a cow.
The court found that Sylvester Masha committed the offence on September 22,2017 at Mwakamu village,Wundanyi in Taita Taveta County.
While sentencing the man,Wundanyi Senior Principal Magistrate Nicholas Njagi said the offence the suspect committed left the court with no option but to hand him a custodial sentence.
“The suspect may be a first offender and a bread winner but what he did betrays him as a pastor, the suspect should behave in a civilized manner as a religious leader , I do not find any sentence that will be appropriate to the circumstances of these case other than a custodial sentence of 14 years imprisonment,” the magistrate said.
Mr Njagi said that the prosecution had proved its case against the accused beyond reasonable doubt.
“The evidence on records from the veterinary officer confirmed that the suspect had a carnal knowledge with the cow, the report leaves us with no doubt at all that the suspect indeed committed the offence , he is guilty as charged,” the magistrate said.
Mr Masha had denied the two offences he allegedly committed on the night of September 22 in his neighbors compound.
The suspect was charged with the offence of having carnal knowledge with the animal , he also faced an alternative charge of attempting an unnatural offence with the animal contrary to Section 162 (b) of the penal code.
The veterinary report produced in court revealed that the cow had lacerations on both the hock regions , which proved that the suspect had indeed committed the offence.
The court said it relied on eye witness statements and the veterinary reports that proved the guilt of the suspect.
“The suspect is a well known person to the complainant therefore there was no issue of mistaken identity, he had been seen at the scene of crime on the night the crime was committed ,” the magistrate said.
In his defense , the suspect said he only saw a brown Friesian cow and not a black and white one that he is accused of having carnal knowledge with.
“The allegations against me are false and I request the court to disregard the claims and absolve me of the accusations ,” he said.
Mr Masha who depends on church offerings as the main source of income , however pleaded with the court to clear him of the charges saying he was the only bread winner in his family.
“I plead for leniency , I have made a decision to marry my long term fiancé who is working in Eldoret,” he told the court.
Prosecution counsel Jethron Okumu asked the court to treat the accused as a first offender saying he had no past criminal records.
Pre-sentence report produced in court indicate the suspect had started a church where he served as a pastor and his followers had raised money to help him organize a wedding but he squandered the money.
