By Andrew Kariuki
The High Court in Garissa has sentenced Mohamed Issack Gedi to 20 years imprisonment after finding him guilty of murdering Abdimalik Issack in a case that shocked residents of Dekabuley village in Garissa Township Sub-County.
According to the court record, the accused had been charged with murder contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code over the killing that occurred on October 30, 2025.
In the sentencing ruling, Justice J. N. Onyiego noted that although the accused pleaded for leniency and described himself as remorseful, the court had to weigh the brutal circumstances under which the offence was committed.
The accused had asked the court for a lighter sentence on grounds that he was allegedly remorseful, a first offender and that the deceased was his relative.
However, the prosecution opposed a lenient sentence, arguing that the accused was not remorseful and that the killing had been carried out in a cruel manner involving excessive force.
The court also considered a pre-sentence report dated May 4, 2026, which stated that the accused was unsuitable for a non-custodial sentence due to hostility from both the victim’s family and members of the community.
According to the report, members of the family and community had allegedly “sworn to finish him if released.”
While discussing sentencing principles, Justice Onyiego cited previous Court of Appeal decisions emphasizing that sentencing remains a discretionary function of the trial court depending on the circumstances of each case.
The judge also referred to the Judiciary Sentencing Policy Guidelines, noting that courts must consider aggravating factors, mitigation, victim impact and community protection before arriving at an appropriate sentence.
In the ruling, the judge observed:
“His own family is bitter with what he did. However, considering the brutal manner in which the complainant was murdered, a deterrent sentence is necessary.”
The court ultimately sentenced the accused to 20 years imprisonment and confirmed that the period already spent in remand custody had been taken into account.
