After being found guilty of robbery with violence, a court in Kirinyaga County sentenced four offenders to death.
Isaak Kariuki, Kennedy Gachoki, James Gitonga, and Christopher Bundi are suspected of killing two people and injuring two more at a nightclub in Ndindiruku, Mwea East sub-county.
They were accused of robbing Margaret Wanjiku Mwangi of Ksh.200,000 and killing her alongside Stephen Muriithi Mwangi on July 1, 2018, while armed with an AK47 rifle.
The four also shot and maimed James Kimani and Kelly Nyawira, who are now unable to defend themselves, according to the court.
Mwangi asked the court to give a maximum sentence to the four persons.
“When they gunned down my wife, I was left with an infant whom I continue to nurture. And under such circumstances, I can hardly go for any meaningful employment,” he said amid tears.
Ms Nyawira, who was maimed in the robbery incident, pleaded with the court to sentence to death the four men.
“I was forced to quit employment due to the serious injury I sustained. I urge this court to send them to the gallows,” said Nyawira.
Defense lawyer Nduku Njuki, in his mitigation, told the court that his clients were still innocent and the police were yet to arrest the perpetrators of the heinous crime.
Justice Mutiso ruled that the convicts had not shown any remorse despite committing the serious crime.
“I find the convicts have no respect for others and even upon being given an opportunity for mitigation, they continue to deny having committed the crime which the prosecution and the witnesses proved beyond a reasonable doubt,” Mutiso ruled.
The magistrate also said, although the death sentence was discretionary, the four deserved it.
Since 1987, when Hezekiah Ochuka and Oteyo Okumu were convicted of orchestrating the August 1, 1982 coup, the death penalty in Kenya has not been carried out.
The country appears to have de facto abolished the death penalty or at least set a policy to do so.
*This article was written by Gerald Gekara for Uzalendo News. Email: uzalendonews@gmail.com for News tips and Inquiries.
