Kenya Case Law

Republic v Farah

Republic v Farah [2025] KEHC 6116 (KLR)

Court

High Court

Case number

Criminal Case E007 of 2024

Judge

JN Onyiego

The court considered the circumstances of the offence, the accused's age (15 years), the reconciliation and compensation between the families, the accused's remorse and guilty plea, and the positive pre-sentence report. The court found that a custodial sentence would not serve the interests of justice for a minor who committed manslaughter in the heat of the moment and has since been forgiven by the victim's family. Emphasizing restorative justice and rehabilitation, the court exercised its discretion to impose a non-custodial sentence of two years' probation, finding this appropriate given t…

Source excerpt

• Manslaughter
• Plea Bargaining
• Juvenile Offender
• Sentencing Principles

Biegon v Republic

Biegon v Republic [2025] KEHC 2626 (KLR)

Court

High Court

Case number

Criminal Revision E075 of 2022

Judge

JK Sergon

A court will not entertain revision proceedings brought at the instance of a party who could have appealed against the sentence.

Source excerpt

• Sentence Review
• Plea Of Guilty
• Juvenile Offender
• Revision Jurisdiction

Republic v SOO

Republic v SOO [2025] KEHC 1910 (KLR)

Court

High Court

Case number

Criminal Case E012 of 2023

Judge

RE Aburili

The High Court at Kisumu sentenced SOO to 10 years’ imprisonment for murder, considering that he was 17 at the time of the offence and applying section 333(2).

• Murder
• Juvenile Offender
• Sentencing Guidelines
• Mitigation
• Constitutionality Of Sentence
• Murder-sentencing

Republic v Eregai

Republic v Eregai [2025] KEHC 731 (KLR)

Court

High Court

Case number

Criminal Case 20 of 2019

Judge

GL Nzioka

The court found the accused guilty of murder because the prosecution proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the deceased's death was caused by the accused's unlawful act and that the accused acted with malice aforethought, inferred from the nature and number of stab wounds, the location of the injuries, the manner of concealing the body and evidence, and the accused's conduct after the incident, which outweighed the defence of provocation.

Source excerpt

• Murder
• Malice Aforethought
• Provocation
• Juvenile Offender
• Circumstantial Evidence

Republic v Kiongo

Republic v Kiongo [2024] KEHC 16363 (KLR)

Court

High Court

Case number

Criminal Case 79 of 2016

Judge

DO Chepkwony

The court found that the accused committed the offence of murder when he was 12 years old, making him a minor at the time. Section 25(2) of the Penal Code prohibits the imposition of the death penalty on persons who were under eighteen at the time of the offence. The Supreme Court decision in Muruatetu further requires individualized sentencing and consideration of mitigating factors. The accused has spent approximately nine years in custody, has demonstrated genuine remorse, undergone rehabilitation, and has the support of his family, the victim's family, and the community. The court determi…

Source excerpt

• Murder
• Juvenile Offender
• Sentencing Principles
• Rehabilitation
• Probation
• Death Penalty

Republic v Thomas

Republic v Thomas [2024] KEHC 15656 (KLR)

Court

High Court

Case number

Criminal Case 8 of 2023

Judge

DR Kavedza

The High Court accepted a plea bargain, convicted the accused of manslaughter, and imposed a five-year prison sentence, backdated to the arrest date.

• Manslaughter
• Plea Bargaining
• Sentencing Guidelines
• Mitigation
• Juvenile Offender
• Plea-bargaining

Republic v Kariuki

Republic v Kariuki [2024] KEHC 14914 (KLR)

Court

High Court

Case number

Criminal Case E041 of 2023

Judge

HI Ong'udi

A 16-year-old first offender convicted of manslaughter was placed on three years’ probation after the High Court found a non-custodial sentence best served rehabilitation.

• Manslaughter
• Juvenile Offender
• Plea Bargain
• Sentencing
• Probation
• Mitigation

Republic v Jandi alias Kibaki & 2 others

Republic v Jandi alias Kibaki & 2 others [2024] KEHC 13344 (KLR)

Court

High Court

Case number

Criminal Case 10 of 2021

Judge

JN Kamau

The High Court at Vihiga sentenced a 17-year-old convicted of manslaughter to three years’ probation after considering his age, remorse, plea agreement, and the pre-sentence report.

• Manslaughter
• Juvenile Offender
• Plea Bargain
• Sentencing Guidelines
• Probation
• Juvenile-offenders

Republic v KC

Republic v KC [2024] KEHC 11276 (KLR)

Court

High Court

Case number

Criminal Case E006 of 2023

Judge

RB Ngetich

On sentence for manslaughter after a guilty plea, the High Court committed KC to Shikuza Borstal Institute for three years, adopting a medical age assessment amid disputed age evidence.

• Manslaughter
• Plea Bargain
• Juvenile Offender
• Sentencing Principles
• Age Assessment
• Sentencing

Republic v Njeri

Republic v Njeri [2024] KEHC 13608 (KLR)

Court

High Court

Case number

Criminal Case E011 of 2022

Judge

SN Mutuku

The High Court at Kajiado convicted Dorcas Njeri of manslaughter on a guilty plea and sentenced her to three years’ probation with support and training.

• Manslaughter
• Juvenile Offender
• Plea Bargaining
• Sentencing Principles
• Postnatal Depression
• Child Protection