Last Change:

02/26/2025

The Penal Code

Year: 2012

Type: Domestic law

Rights Category: Liberty & security of person

Description

The Penal Code of Kenya establishes the legal framework for defining criminal offenses, prescribing punishments, and maintaining law and order in the country. It addresses a wide range of offenses, including crimes against the person (e.g., murder, assault), property crimes (e.g., theft, fraud), and public order offenses. The Code also provides protections against sexual offenses, kidnapping, and unlawful assembly. By prescribing penalties for violations, it safeguards individual rights, promotes public safety, and upholds justice within Kenya’s legal framework.

Selected provisions
Section 162 - Sexual Offenses

Any person who unlawfully has carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of fourteen years is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment with hard labour for life, with or without corporal punishment.