A senior police officer has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of murdering an unarmed young man in Mombasa.
The High Court in Mombasa ruled that the officer, formerly the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) for Likoni, unlawfully shot a 20-year-old man in 2018 at Mwenza Village during what was described in court as an attempted arrest over alleged goat theft.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the court found that the officer acted outside the law by using lethal force when there was no immediate threat.
The prosecution, led by Ngiri Wangui, presented more than 20 witnesses who placed the officer at the scene and refuted claims that the deceased posed any danger.
Witnesses testified that the victim was unarmed and offered no resistance at the time he was shot.
“The prosecution presented more than 20 witnesses to prove the case against the former chief inspector. The court heard testimony placing him at the scene and challenging claims that the victim posed any threat,” the ODPP said.
The trial revealed that the officer fired multiple shots, killing the young man instantly. Testimony during the proceedings highlighted contradictions in claims that the shooting was necessary, showing that no imminent danger existed to justify the use of a firearm.
In delivering the life sentence, Lady Justice Wendy Kagendo Micheni said the court had reviewed a pre-sentence report, mitigation submissions, and a victim impact statement.
She emphasized that, as a senior police commander, the convicted officer had a duty to protect life and uphold the law, a duty he violated by abusing his authority and using unlawful force against a civilian.
The court underscored that misuse of state power erodes public trust in law enforcement and must be met with a deterrent punishment. Family members of the deceased spoke of enduring psychological trauma years after the incident.
Justice Micheni informed the officer that he may exercise his right to appeal within 14 days if he wishes to challenge the conviction and sentence.
