City cops handed death sentence for killing colleague in pub
By RICHARD MUNGUTI and HILARY KIMUYUTwo police officers have been sentenced to death for murdering an Administration Police Constable in cold blood.
Lady Justice Stellah Mutuku on Wednesday imposed the mandatory death penalty on Benjamim Kahindi Changawa and Stanley Okoti after finding them guilty of killing Joseph Obongo Onchuri on October 7, 2014 at M-Club in Kangemi, Nairobi.
The two officers also shot dead the victim’s two relatives Goeffrey Nyabuto Mogoi and Amos Okenye Makori.
The judge put in abeyance the sentences for the murders of Mr Mogoi and Mr Makori. She however said the first death sentence of the AP will be meted.
ACTED IRRESPONSIBLY
Justice Mutuku said the two officers acted irresponsibly when they shot dead the three who had already surrendered.
The two police officers were called into the club by a watchman who informed them that there were armed robbers in the club.
The two, who were patrol, went to the club and opened fire on the three, killing them on the spot.
In their defence the police officers said they had been informed that the suspected robbers were armed.
The judge said Onchuri, who although was armed, did not use his gun on anybody.
The court observed that the two relatives surrendered by lying on the floor of the club but were not spared. Onchuri lifted his hands up but was shot at.
“Justice served better is optimum penalty given under the law,” Justice Mutuku.
Mr Changawa had served the force for 39 years, while Mr Okoti had served for 20 years.
Meanwhile, a police officer at the Dagoreti Chiefs’ camp in Nairobi committed suicide in his house on Wednesday morning using his official riffle.
His colleagues who heard the gunshot rushed to his house and found him dead.
According to police report, the motive of the incident is yet to be established as he did not leave any suicide note.
The body was moved to the mortuary as police launched investigation.
Suicides within the police force have been on the rise lately, with police bosses attributing it to stressful working environment.