This archive report was first published on 23 June 2020.
On June 23, 2020, the Court of Appeal delivered a ruling that reduced the sentence of two police officers from death to 10 years.
Stanley Okoiti and Benjamin Kahindi were found guilty of killing their colleague, Constable Joseph Onchuru, who was attached to the home of the late Joel Onyancha, the former Bomachoge MP, in Nairobi.
The Court of Appeal, led by Justices William Ouko and Agnes Murgor, reduced the sentence based on the fact that the two officers were family men with clean records of service and no disciplinary records at the police force.
The court also set the jail terms to commence from November 1, 2018, when High Court judge Stella Mutuku convicted the two officers.
While delivering the ruling, the judges stated that the officers were first offenders and had served in the force between 20 and 30 years.
However, Judge Fatuma Sichale declined to sign the judgement, stating that she was of a different opinion.
The judgement was delivered in accordance with Rule 32(2) of the Court of Appeal's rules, which provides that in criminal applications, one judgement shall be given as the judgement of the court.
The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal on conviction, stating that the prosecution established beyond any reasonable doubt that Constable Joseph Onchuru and his two relatives did not deserve the manner in which they were killed on October 7, 2014, at M-Club in Kangemi area of Nairobi.
