This archive report was first published on 1 July 2019.
On July 1, 2019, a court in Kenya handed down a three-year jail sentence to prison warder Dismas Motogwa Gitenge for killing a Kenyatta University student, Maureen Gachagua.
According to Senior Resident Magistrate Elector Riany, Gitenge's actions called for a custodial sentence. The warder had failed to stop at the scene of the incident, claiming he had knocked down a cow.
Gitenge was also handed a six-month jail term for failing to report the incident and had his driver's license cancelled.
Upon being hit by Gitenge's car, Ms. Gachagua's leg was cut off and she was left at the scene. The warder's car number plate was left at the scene, and police used it to identify the offender.
Ms. Gachagua's mother attempted to take her own life after the incident, unable to cope with the loss of her lastborn daughter.
Gitenge's lawyer, Dunstan Omar, stated that he would appeal against the sentence, which had no option for a fine.
The family of the deceased expressed happiness that 'justice has been done'.
