A Homa Bay-based police officer has been charged in court with defiling a class 8 minor who went to seek help from him.

According to the Homa Bay Sub-County Children's officer, Joseph Otieno, the minor went to seek refuge at the police station after disagreeing with her mother that evening over her transition to secondary school.

"It was dark, and the only place she thought she could get help was at the station. She found the officer who led her into his house and defiled her," Otieno said.

Constable Josephat Kiate Muindu was arraigned at Homa Bay Law Courts before Resident Magistrate Toroitich B.

He was accused of defiling the 15-year-old girl when she went to Rangwe Police Station to seek shelter from the police station after her mother sent her away from home at night.

Muindu was charged with two offences namely having carnal knowledge of the minor at the Rangwe Police line on April 12, 2022, contrary to the Sexual Offences Act of 2006 and committing an indecent act with a child contrary to the Sexual Offences Act of 2006.

The officer denied the charges and was given a bond of Sh200,000 or cash bail of Sh50,000.

The minor has since been taken in at a child protection centre.