DCI holding 85 years old Swiss national over teen defilement in Watamu
Detectives attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations are holding an 85-year-old Swiss national arrested in Watamu, Kilifi County over allegations of defiling a 15-year-old girl, in a case that has sparked outrage among residents.
Gisler Emil Johann was taken into custody by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) after the teenager was allegedly found inside his residence during a police operation. Authorities said the minor had been reported missing by her parents on February 1, 2026, prompting an urgent search.
According to initial police reports, investigators traced the girl to the suspect’s home following leads gathered during the search. She was rescued during the operation and immediately taken to Gede Sub-County Hospital for medical examination, treatment and counseling.
Police are now working to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to her disappearance and establish how she ended up at the elderly foreign national’s residence. Detectives say they are compiling evidence as investigations intensify.
Under Kenyan law, defilement of a minor carries severe penalties, including life imprisonment upon conviction. The DCI confirmed that the suspect remains in custody and is expected to be formally charged once investigations are complete.
