The Disturbing Case of a German Sexual Predator Raping Young Boys in Kenya And Getting Away With It

In the quiet community of Bahati, Kenya, a disturbing pattern of alleged child sexual abuse has come to light, revealing troubling questions about how a foreign national has managed to navigate Kenya’s justice system despite serious criminal charges.

Martin Hermann Baumgartner, a 64-year-old German national with dual Kenyan citizenship, established himself as a respected figure in the Kwa Nyayo area of Bahati. Through his agricultural machinery firm, Twajenga Holdings, Hermann presented himself as a benefactor to the community, particularly to young boys whom he offered jobs and various forms of support.

“Martin told me he is a farmer and also does charity work and that he helps the poor,” testified one 17-year-old victim identified as KV during court proceedings.

The community came to know Hermann affectionately as “Mzee,” a term of respect in Swahili often reserved for elders. His philanthropic reputation allowed him unusual access to vulnerable children in an area marked by poverty.

However, on February 14, 2023, detectives from the Nakuru Directorate of Criminal Investigations raided Hermann’s home, arrested him, and confiscated his vehicle and electronic devices. The following day, he was charged with 14 counts of sexual assault against eight boys in Bahati subcounty, including defilement, sexual assault, indecent acts with children, and compelling minors to engage in indecent acts.

Prosecutors allege the offenses were committed between 2006 and 2023 at Hermann’s residence. He also faced two additional counts of human trafficking, allegedly having transported two young men aged 18 and 19 to Shanzu in Kilifi County for sexual exploitation.

Disturbing testimony

Court records reveal harrowing testimony from multiple alleged victims who describe a calculated pattern of grooming and abuse.

One victim, now 17, testified that Hermann initially offered to help with his eye condition, taking him to hospitals in Maili Saba and later Nairobi. The boy described being made to share a bed with Hermann while in Nairobi, where he was allegedly defiled.

“Due to my dependence on him, I massaged his private parts until he ejaculated. I was so embarrassed,” the teenager testified, explaining how Hermann conditioned gifts, including Christmas clothing worth 7,000 Kenyan shillings, on sexual acts.

Another victim, identified as KK, told the court that when he was 15 years old in 2014, Hermann invited him to shower together and then demanded the boy massage his genitals. He alleged that Hermann later took him to Mombasa several times and introduced him to drugs.

A third victim, NK, testified that in 2007, when he was in Class Five (approximately 10-11 years old), Hermann gave him and three other children wine until they became intoxicated. “I don’t know what happened, but I found myself the following morning in his bedroom with a lot of pain around the anus,” NK testified.

NK added poignantly: “He took advantage of my situation. I had no one else to help me except him. He paid my school fees and is currently my employer.”

A familiar pattern 

Martin Hermann Baumgartner

Despite the gravity of the charges and testimony from multiple alleged victims, Hermann was released on a bond of 1 million Kenyan shillings with a surety of a similar amount. He was required to surrender his passports to the court.

Court records suggest this may not be Hermann’s first encounter with Kenyan law enforcement. Chief Inspector Evelyne Mboya, attached to the Anti-human trafficking wing of the DCI, informed the court she had received complaints from the Independent Police Oversight Authority about “a previous scheme by the suspect to defeat justice by evading arrest.”

After his release on bond, Hermann attempted to challenge the criminal proceedings in the High Court, arguing the trial was unfair and the charges malicious. He also complained that bond terms requiring him to stay away from witnesses and his company would cripple him financially. The High Court rejected these arguments.

In a concerning development, court officials discovered that Hermann’s file had attracted interest from “unknown individuals,” prompting the court to order the file be secured in a strong room.

On May 16, 2025, Principal Magistrate Vincent Adet issued an arrest warrant for Hermann after he failed to appear in court. He was arrested the same day but later released after his lawyer claimed a medical condition had prevented his attendance.

The case has left deep scars in the Bahati community, where many families had trusted Hermann with their children’s welfare.

“I am never at peace because of what Martin did to me,” testified one victim, expressing the lasting psychological trauma allegedly inflicted by a man who had positioned himself as a benefactor.

Child protection advocates have raised concerns about vulnerabilities in Kenya’s judicial system that may allow individuals facing serious charges to delay or potentially evade justice, particularly when they have financial resources.

The case continues, with the next hearing scheduled for July 4, 2025. Hermann has denied all charges.