SENTENCING
The court has heard the mitigation for the counsel of the accused, and has also noted that this plea of guilty has been secured pursuant to plea bargaining agreement.
I note that paragraph 14 of the plea agreement recommends a custodial sentence of not less than twenty (20) years.
This is an agreement the parties in this plea agreement, and ordinarily, the court, although has discretion in sentencing should rarely depart from such recommendation unless in very exceptional circumstances.
I take into consideration that the accused is a 1 st offender, the fact that he actually handed himself over to the police and also, the fact that he has gone ahead and pleaded guilty to the charge. These are indications of a man who deeply regrets the offence he committed and is willing to learn from the mistakes of the past and change.
But the offence of taking away the life of another human being is very serious, for the life cannot be replaced and the family of the deceased will forever live with the pain of losing a loved one. The maximum sentence is life imprisonment.
Balancing the conduct of the accused and need to do justice to the deceased and deceased family, I am satisfied that a sentence of twenty (20) years imprisonment proposed in the plea-bargaining agreement is sufficient punishment for this offence.
I thus order that the accused shall serve sentence (20) years imprisonment. The sentence to run from date of arrest.
Right of appeal 14 days.
Dated, signed and delivered virtually at Thika this 16 th day of June, 2026.
...............................................
L. N. MUGAMBI
JUDGE
HCCR NO. E019/2025 2 | Page
The court has heard the mitigation for the counsel of the accused, and has also noted that this plea of guilty has been secured pursuant to plea bargaining agreement.
I note that paragraph 14 of the plea agreement recommends a custodial sentence of not less than twenty (20) years.
This is an agreement the parties in this plea agreement, and ordinarily, the court, although has discretion in sentencing should rarely depart from such recommendation unless in very exceptional circumstances.
I take into consideration that the accused is a 1 st offender, the fact that he actually handed himself over to the police and also, the fact that he has gone ahead and pleaded guilty to the charge. These are indications of a man who deeply regrets the offence he committed and is willing to learn from the mistakes of the past and change.
But the offence of taking away the life of another human being is very serious, for the life cannot be replaced and the family of the deceased will forever live with the pain of losing a loved one. The maximum sentence is life imprisonment.
Balancing the conduct of the accused and need to do justice to the deceased and deceased family, I am satisfied that a sentence of twenty (20) years imprisonment proposed in the plea-bargaining agreement is sufficient punishment for this offence.
I thus order that the accused shall serve sentence (20) years imprisonment. The sentence to run from date of arrest.
Right of appeal 14 days.
Dated, signed and delivered virtually at Thika this 16 th day of June, 2026.
...............................................
L. N. MUGAMBI
JUDGE
HCCR NO. E019/2025 2 | Page