The High Court in Kisumu has sentenced Dennis Omondi Onyango, popularly known in Chemelil as Denno wa Njugu, to 15 years in prison for killing Joseph Otieno Murende, alias Otongolo, during a violent confrontation sparked by a domestic dispute.
Justice Omido Joe handed down the sentence on Monday, describing the killing as a “heat of passion” crime but highlighting that the sanctity of human life must always be upheld.
Omondi, who had initially been charged with murder, entered a plea bargain agreement with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), leading to the charge being reduced to manslaughter.
According to court records, the fatal encounter took place on the morning of May 22, 2023, in Chemelil, Muhoroni Sub-County.
The court heard that the deceased, Murende, confronted Omondi after allegedly finding him in the company of his wife. What began as a heated argument quickly turned violent.
Prosecution Counsel Mercy Mutheu Muema told the court that during the struggle, Omondi disarmed the deceased and attacked him with a panga, striking him several times on the head. Murende collapsed from his injuries and died shortly afterward.
A post-mortem examination showed that the deceased had suffered massive subdural bleeding and deep head wounds caused by a sharp object. After the incident, Omondi fled the scene, and the murder weapon was never recovered.
In her submissions, Prosecutor Muema urged the court to impose a firm sentence, noting that the accused’s actions had led to an “irreversible loss of life” and caused immense pain to the victim’s family.
“The accused’s conduct was reckless and deprived the family of the deceased of a loved one,” she said. “A strong message must be sent that violence has no place in resolving disputes.”
In his judgment, Justice Omido Joe said the case was a tragic example of how emotional confrontations can spiral into fatal violence. While recognizing that the crime occurred in the heat of passion, he stressed that no circumstance can justify taking another person’s life.
“While the offence was committed in the heat of passion, the taking of a human life cannot be excused,” the judge ruled. “Every life is sacred, and justice must not only serve the offender but also the victim and the community at large.”
After considering both the mitigating and aggravating factors, Justice Omido sentenced Omondi to 15 years in prison, effective June 14, 2024, when he was first remanded.The ruling, he said, was meant to serve as a warning against violence in domestic disputes.
“The sanctity of human life must be upheld through firm custodial sentences,” he said.
