Man to spend 5 years in jail for burning his house

A man who set his house on fire while drunk has been jailed for five years from a previous sentence of 10 years.

Robert Karuinge Mwangi was convicted and sentenced by a lower court to serve the 10 years, but which he termed punitive.

He, however, got a reprieve after he drafted a quick appeal against the conviction and sentence.

Judge Kanyi Kimondo, sitting at the High Court in Murang’a, ruled that the offence of arson carried a sentence of up to life, but he considered that Karuinge was the husband to complainant Rahab Njeri, and the burnt three-roomed semi-permanent house was their home.

“Karuinge was drunk and he has no previous records of crime. I think the sentence of 10 years was too harsh in the circumstances. I sentence him to five years imprisonment, which will take effect from July 18, 2016, the date of original conviction,” ruled Justice Kimondo.

Karuingi had in mitigation told the criminal appeal that he was also a victim of the fire because he lost his property.

Victim Impact Statement was tabled before the appeal.

The convict is said to have committed the offense on March 23, 2016 at Gitathi village, Kangema sub-county in Murang’a County.

A State counsel had at the same time opposed the appeal and submitted that the sentence handed down was lenient.