Man sentenced to death for robbery with violence in Kawangware

Court gavel. [Courtesy]

The Kibera Law Courts have sentenced Isaac Khanga to death after convicting him on two counts of robbery with violence.

According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Khanga was found guilty of robbing two men of mobile phones valued at Sh39,000 and cash amounting to Sh30,000.

The court established that, immediately before the thefts, Khanga threatened to use actual violence against the victims. The offences took place separately on the night of 3rd November 2024 at around 11:00 p.m. in the Kawangware Madiaba area of Dagoretti Sub-county, Nairobi County.

In one instance, he stole a Tecno mobile phone worth Sh24,000 and Sh30,000 in cash. In the second incident, he robbed another victim of a phone valued at Sh15,000.

"These charges have been proven beyond reasonable doubt," said Prosecutor Ann Murage. The court also heard that Khanga committed the crimes jointly with accomplices who were not before the court.

"The death penalty remains legal in Kenya and has not been declared unconstitutional," emphasised Principal Magistrate Christine Njagi while delivering her judgment. Khanga received two death sentences-one for each count-although one will be held in abeyance.

Khanga was formally charged on November 15, 2024, by the ODPP. The case was concluded within six months-a notable demonstration of judicial efficiency.

On December 5, 2024, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki reiterated the Executive's commitment to upholding the independence of the ODPP and other constitutional bodies.

Commending the ODPP for aligning its strategic plan with Kenya's constitutional values, Kindiki underscored the importance of transparency, accountability, and respect for human rights in the prosecution process.

He also raised concerns over occasional unethical conduct among prosecutors, which, he said, undermines public trust.

"A prosecutor's duty is to act to a higher standard than a litigant in a civil matter, as they represent society as a whole and deal with the serious consequences of criminal conviction," Kindiki stated.

Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga reaffirmed the ODPP's commitment to prosecuting high-profile cases-including corruption and economic crimes-without external interference.