An American missionary who ran an orphanage in Bomet has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing four girls at the children's home.

Gregory Dow, 61, pleaded guilty to four counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places.

"Gregory Dow hid behind his supposed faith on the other side of the world, hoping no one in the U.S. would know or care about the children he abused.

The orphanage located in Kapsiratet village was closed in September 2017 after the missionary was allegedly caught defiling one of the girls in what lifted the lid on abuse of the children, kicking off a storm which led to Mr Dow fleeing Kenya to avoid arrest and prosecution.

Mr Dow had arrived in Kenya in 2008 and set up Dow's Children's Home in Boito ward, Konoin Sub-County, with the help of locals and funding from his church and other organisations back in the US.