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Schoolgirl sentenced for aborting after allegedly being impregnated by father

By KNA July 15th, 2015 1 min read

A 20 year old form three student has been sentenced to six months in prison by a Nyahururu court after pleading guilty to procuring an abortion.

Phylis Gathoni of Kahuruku village, Nyandarua County, terminated the pregnancy on May 2 by taking a concoction she made from tea leaves, cow dung and charcoal.

She told resident magistrate Victoria Ochanda that she opted to abort her six-month old pregnancy as she would be rendered an outcast together with her unborn child.

An inquiry into the allegations that her biological father was responsible for the pregnancy bore no fruit. Her father denied the allegations in his testimony to the court.

While presenting a pre-sentence report, area probation officer Ms Jacinta Maina told the court that the form three student had pleaded leniency for terminating the pregnancy.

Ms Maina’s recommendation to have the girl sentenced to a non-custodial sentence were thwarted after it emerged that she was not a minor.

Meanwhile, 21 year old Beth Wanjiku was ordered to serve a three-year non-custodial sentence for terminating a seven-month old pregnancy.

The court heard that on June 20 this year, the resident of Manguo shopping centre procured the abortion after she realized that her lover was married and was not ready to marry with her.

Probation Officer Ms Mary Munyi told resident magistrate Ms Alice Mukenga that the woman was remorseful of her actions and that her family was willing to take her and help her change.

“Efforts to reach a Dr. Kimani who procured the abortion by giving her some pills bore no fruit as he had switched off his phone,” noted Ms Munyi.