Kisumu man sentenced to 20 years for brutal killing

BY ERIC ABUGA

The High Court in Kisumu has sentenced a man to 20 years’ imprisonment for the brutal killing of a young man whose life was cut short in a violent daylight attack.

Initially charged with murder, the accused later entered into a plea bargain agreement with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of manslaughter.

He admitted to the offence freely and voluntarily, without coercion or promise of benefit beyond the terms of the agreement. 

Prosecution Counsel Mercy Mutheu Muema presented the grim details of the fatal assault that occurred around midday. 

The deceased was traveling home with friends when the accused and his accomplices arrived on a red motorcycle and armed with a panga, hoe stick, and knife, the group launched a vicious assault, stabbing and beating the victim repeatedly.

Witnesses recounted how the young man’s friends fled the scene in fear, raising alarm that attracted members of the public. The assailants fled, abandoning their motorcycle as residents rushed to assist the victim. 

In a desperate attempt to save his life, the crowd used the same motorcycle to transport him to Kisumu Sub-County Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Medical evidence presented by the pathologist who conducted the post-mortem examination, revealed that the deceased died from severe head injuries caused by blunt force trauma. 

The accused was later arrested and taken to Kondele DCI offices, with the recovered motorcycle presented as part of the prosecution evidence.

In his sentencing, Justice Omido Joe considered a pre-sentencing report from the Probation Office, which painted a somber picture of the aftermath. The report indicated that all other suspects who participated in the assault had since been killed and that the community remained deeply aggrieved by the death of the young man, expressing strong opposition to the accused’s return to society.

Taking into account the violent nature of the attack, the loss of a young life, and the community’s sentiments, Justice Omido imposed the sentence, describing it as a necessary measure to deliver justice and restore public confidence in the criminal justice system.