This archive report was first published on 5 November 2021.
On November 5, 2021, Principal Magistrate Helen Okwani handed down a one-year jail sentence to former Laikipia North MP Mathew Lempurkel for assaulting his political rival Sarah Korere.
The court found Lempurkel guilty of assaulting Korere in 2016, with witnesses testifying that the incident occurred in a boardroom in their presence.
Lempurkel's defense team presented a medical report showing he was admitted to Karen hospital with high blood pressure, but the report did not indicate any signs of assault.
However, Korere produced a medical report and a P3 form, which showed she was indeed assaulted.
The court observed that the rising cases of violence in the country warranted a stern sentence, and Lempurkel was not given the option of a fine.
