A Dutch national who had been convicted of multiple sexual offences involving minors has died in Nairobi while serving a 10-year prison sentence, authorities have said.
Jan Veld, also known by several aliases including ‘teacher’, ‘dad’ and ‘mzungu’, is said to have died at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) on May 17, where he had been admitted following an undisclosed illness.
Although the cause of death has not yet been confirmed, authorities said that the body of the 77 year old has been moved to the Kenyatta Farewell Home, where an autopsy will be carried out.
In March, Veld was found guilty of committing an indecent act and nine other sexual offences by the Children's Court in Nairobi and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Milimani Magistrate Joyce Macharia, while delivering her ruling, ordered Mr Veld to pay $7,735 (Sh1 million) in compensation to each of the three victims. The court also ruled that he should be deported to the Netherlands upon completing his prison sentence.
“As the court of first instance, having heard this matter from the onset, and having observed the demeanour of the accused person and all witnesses, with particular emphasis on PW3, who testified from a place of deep hurt, this court finds that the prosecution adduced overwhelming evidence in support of all 10 counts. Each charge has been proved both individually and collectively beyond reasonable doubt,” she ruled.
Veld was arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in December 2023 while trying to flee the country.
During the subsequent court proceedings, digital forensic analysts revealed incriminating WhatsApp exchanges between the defendant and a 17-year-old boy. The messages showed that the defendant had pressured the minor into performing sexual acts.
Prosecutors also submitted disturbing photos and videos extracted from the defendant’s phone, which showed evidence of child exploitation.
Veld pleaded not guilty, claiming that Kenya’s legal age of consent was too high. He attempted to justify his behaviour by referencing biblical passages, an argument that was met with strong condemnation from the prosecution.
Prosecutors detailed how, between April and June 2022, the Dutchman had committed offences in Turbo in Uasin Gishu County.
These included indecently touching male minors and possessing obscene images of children as young as seven. Forensic experts testified that the content found on his devices revealed long-standing patterns of abuse.
His death comes months after another Dutch national facing extradition from Kenya to the Netherlands died while in police custody.
Mr Brouwer was hospitalised on January 20, shortly after his arrest on an international warrant issued by Dutch officials. Before his admission, he had been detained at Parklands Police Station as extradition proceedings were ongoing at the Milimani Law Courts.
Following his death, his body was transferred to the mortuary for a post-mortem.
Mr Brouwer had been convicted in the Netherlands in 2020 on two counts of sexually abusing minors aged 12 to 16. His arrest in Nairobi on January 13 followed a formal extradition request by the Dutch government through its embassy.
The DPP, through a notice of motion, said the Netherlands wanted Mr Brouwer to be returned to serve his prison sentence for two counts of committing non-consensual lewd acts. These include sexual penetration of the person, with a person who has attained the age of 12 years but has not attained the age of 16 years.
He was also accused of using force to conduct the acts consisting of sexual penetration, for which he was prosecuted and convicted on December 28, 2020.
Subsequently, Mr Brouwer filed an appeal which was dismissed by the Dutch Bosch Court of Appeal on December 21, 2021.
