The Milimani High Court has sentenced a 36-year-old man to 40 years in prison for the murder of Maxwell Gakure Kariuki, a fourth-year law student.
The incident, which occurred on June 28, 2017, along Limuru Road in Nairobi County, has been a harrowing reminder of the vulnerability of young lives.
The accused, Hillary Kipkorir Yego, was found guilty of the brutal murder of Kariuki, who was just 26 years old and pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Law at Mount Kenya University.
The case, prosecuted by Counsel Mercy Njoroge, presented a compelling argument for a severe sentence, emphasizing Yego's lack of remorse throughout the trial.
During the sentencing, Justice Daniel Ogola Ogembo of the Milimani High Court remarked on the gravity of Yego's actions and his steadfast claim of innocence, which further demonstrated his unrepentant attitude.
"Despite the accused being found guilty and further convicted, he still maintained that he was innocent hence didn't show any sign of remorse for the act he had committed," Justice Ogembo stated.
The court also reviewed a pre-sentence report which painted a sad picture of the consequences of Kariuki's death on his family.
The report highlighted the profound grief and trauma experienced by the deceased's parents.
Kariuki's mother is now bedridden, and his father continues to grapple with the emotional pain of losing his son.
Justice Ogembo, taking into account the severe impact on Kariuki's family and the community's call for justice, decided on a 40-year imprisonment term for Yego.
The sentence is set to commence on July 24, 2017, the date when Yego was first arraigned and charged with murder under Section 203 and Section 204 of the Penal Code.
